Official Government Shutdown 2023 Thread

[Anonymous]

I am going to continue to work while furloughed. Fortunately I was able to print off a lot of stuff to read and mark up during the furlough so I do not expect to be too far behind when we return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CNN - House GOP meets at 930a as a plan has been under discussion: a CR until Nov. 17 extending current funding with disaster aid, per sources. Put it under suspension (2/3 majority) and rely on D votes, something McCarthy’s hard-right has told him not to do.

So I haven’t followed the politics of this so could someone explain - I though the reason a clean CR wasn’t an option weeks ago is bc the MAGA caucus demanded that any CR/budget have huge spending cuts. Granted maybe a clean CR passes without them - w Dems + moderate GOP. But then I thought the MAGA caucus has said if McCarthy gets it done that way with Dems, they’ll come after his speakership. Is McCarthy now implying he’d give up speakership? Maybe he would but I’m kind of surprised he’d offer that up pre shutdown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CNN - House GOP meets at 930a as a plan has been under discussion: a CR until Nov. 17 extending current funding with disaster aid, per sources. Put it under suspension (2/3 majority) and rely on D votes, something McCarthy’s hard-right has told him not to do.

Thanks for the update - saw it here first. This could still turn around.

As a fed selfishly thinking about my own bottom line (because obviously best for country is no shutdown), I hope we can either avoid this so I don't have to cancel Monday's important external meetings and delay their projects, or not reopen until Wednesday so i can avoid my 3 hour round trip commute for 10 hours on site Tuesday. A Sunday-Monday shutdown would be the most annoying scenario for me as an individual. Yes, DCUM, of course I don't think that's more important than anyone or anything else in the country, but House Republicans aren't asking me anyway.

I don't think we're going to have a long shutdown. Too few holdouts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is time for OLC to revisit the opinion it issued in 1981 that an agency must cease operations during a lapse in appropriations.

Or Congress needs to amend the Antideficiency Act to avoid this ridiculous ritual. Or just pass legislation guaranteeing an automatic CR until Congress passes a budget. We look weak and dysfunctional to our enemies. There is a solution, they just choose not to do it.

Automatic 30day CR each time we approach a lapse. If they don't like prior year spending they can do their jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CNN - House GOP meets at 930a as a plan has been under discussion: a CR until Nov. 17 extending current funding with disaster aid, per sources. Put it under suspension (2/3 majority) and rely on D votes, something McCarthy’s hard-right has told him not to do.

So I haven’t followed the politics of this so could someone explain - I though the reason a clean CR wasn’t an option weeks ago is bc the MAGA caucus demanded that any CR/budget have huge spending cuts. Granted maybe a clean CR passes without them - w Dems + moderate GOP. But then I thought the MAGA caucus has said if McCarthy gets it done that way with Dems, they’ll come after his speakership. Is McCarthy now implying he’d give up speakership? Maybe he would but I’m kind of surprised he’d offer that up pre shutdown.

I think they're hoping if they can separate Ukraine aid from the CR, that's enough cover for the MAGA to call it a win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am going to continue to work while furloughed. Fortunately I was able to print off a lot of stuff to read and mark up during the furlough so I do not expect to be too far behind when we return.

Technically, that is illegal and I would not brag about it.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Looks like some of you are getting a (delayed paid) vacation.

Please don’t put it those terms. Feds just want to do their jobs, like everyone else. Nothing — and I mean nothing — about this is vacation-like.

You are not working, and getting paid for it. That's about as vacation-like as it gets.

You know it’s not a vacation.

If someone told me I couldn't work, would get paid for the time, and needed to stay home, I'd absolutely consider it a vacation. The fact that you can't spend it at the beach doesn't change that.

Do your vacations usually end at arbitrary times without notice and require you to report to work within four hours?

I would be ok with that! I’d stay home and get caught up on projects around the house. Read a few books, try new recipes, exercise….

But it’s not a vacation.

DP. Fine, don't want to call it a vacation? Call it welfare entitlement. You are being paid not to work.

Unlike my family. My spouse like you will get back pay, except that they are excepted and will have to work for the delayed pay. They don't get to clean the garage, the freezer, or go for a walk in the park, because they will still be working. I am a contractor, so I will be like you, at home and at leisure to do anything within recall of work. Except that you get paid and I don't.

So you are like the welfare recipients. You don't work, but you still get a handout from the federal government.

Maybe this is hard for you to understand, but some of us like our jobs, are invested in what we do, and really resent this needless disruption. So much time wasted this week planning for a possible shutdown. This "vacation" you call it at home will come back to bite later when I'm trying to catch up. The a-hats in Congress behind this are the ones not doing their jobs.

And all my reports are contractors. I am furious that they have this uncertainty and could lose pay. It's ridiculous.

Such misplaced resentment from that poster. I guess I’ll be on a “vacation” as you call it but I didn’t ask for it. I’m not going anywhere - DH working, kids I’m school and I likely will be called as essential for some brief periods. I may do some nice things - read some books, lunch with friends, exercise classes but what am I supposed to do? I didn’t create this situation.

You could work.

What do you mean? Feds aren’t supposed to work a second job unless it is pre-approved by their agency. So my understanding is they can’t have a side job during the shutdown unless they already got that approved ahead of time.

Interesting. At my agency you can log onto the system for 2-3 specific reasons and one of them is to get approval for a 2nd job. And the Ethics folks are being treated as essential so they’ll be there to approve/disapprove.

oh wow. what agency is this? that was great forsight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is time for OLC to revisit the opinion it issued in 1981 that an agency must cease operations during a lapse in appropriations.

Or Congress needs to amend the Antideficiency Act to avoid this ridiculous ritual. Or just pass legislation guaranteeing an automatic CR until Congress passes a budget. We look weak and dysfunctional to our enemies. There is a solution, they just choose not to do it.

Automatic 30day CR each time we approach a lapse. If they don't like prior year spending they can do their jobs.

This.

I’ve been furloughed and while the time “off” was a novelty and my closet was really organized after 30 days, I would be 100% fine if we ended this fiction forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like some of you are getting a (delayed paid) vacation.

Please don’t put it those terms. Feds just want to do their jobs, like everyone else. Nothing — and I mean nothing — about this is vacation-like.

You are not working, and getting paid for it. That's about as vacation-like as it gets.

You know it’s not a vacation.

If someone told me I couldn't work, would get paid for the time, and needed to stay home, I'd absolutely consider it a vacation. The fact that you can't spend it at the beach doesn't change that.

Do your vacations usually end at arbitrary times without notice and require you to report to work within four hours?

I would be ok with that! I’d stay home and get caught up on projects around the house. Read a few books, try new recipes, exercise….

But it’s not a vacation.

DP. Fine, don't want to call it a vacation? Call it welfare entitlement. You are being paid not to work.

Unlike my family. My spouse like you will get back pay, except that they are excepted and will have to work for the delayed pay. They don't get to clean the garage, the freezer, or go for a walk in the park, because they will still be working. I am a contractor, so I will be like you, at home and at leisure to do anything within recall of work. Except that you get paid and I don't.

So you are like the welfare recipients. You don't work, but you still get a handout from the federal government.

Maybe this is hard for you to understand, but some of us like our jobs, are invested in what we do, and really resent this needless disruption. So much time wasted this week planning for a possible shutdown. This "vacation" you call it at home will come back to bite later when I'm trying to catch up. The a-hats in Congress behind this are the ones not doing their jobs.

And all my reports are contractors. I am furious that they have this uncertainty and could lose pay. It's ridiculous.

Such misplaced resentment from that poster. I guess I’ll be on a “vacation” as you call it but I didn’t ask for it. I’m not going anywhere - DH working, kids I’m school and I likely will be called as essential for some brief periods. I may do some nice things - read some books, lunch with friends, exercise classes but what am I supposed to do? I didn’t create this situation.

You could work.

Actually no, I can’t. There are potential criminal penalties. I like my job but I’m not risking that for it and, frankly, I’d get in huge trouble with my management if I am working leaving aside criminal penalties. We can’t just work because we feel like it. My point is I can understand being a little jealous of feds who have what may turn out to be paid time off. But a mature perspective is to recognize yes, you’re a little envious but the blame for this isn’t on federal workers. We’re just the pawns in this silliness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is time for OLC to revisit the opinion it issued in 1981 that an agency must cease operations during a lapse in appropriations.

Or Congress needs to amend the Antideficiency Act to avoid this ridiculous ritual. Or just pass legislation guaranteeing an automatic CR until Congress passes a budget. We look weak and dysfunctional to our enemies. There is a solution, they just choose not to do it.

Automatic 30day CR each time we approach a lapse. If they don't like prior year spending they can do their jobs.

Agree with this. We look like a bunch of idiots to the rest of the world - it’s no way to run a country. Plus, personally speaking, it would make my life easier. My spouse is a fed employee and I’m a contractor and these shutdowns put us in a tough spot. We have savings, of course, but still they are not great financially given that I don’t get back pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CNN - House GOP meets at 930a as a plan has been under discussion: a CR until Nov. 17 extending current funding with disaster aid, per sources. Put it under suspension (2/3 majority) and rely on D votes, something McCarthy’s hard-right has told him not to do.

So I haven’t followed the politics of this so could someone explain - I though the reason a clean CR wasn’t an option weeks ago is bc the MAGA caucus demanded that any CR/budget have huge spending cuts. Granted maybe a clean CR passes without them - w Dems + moderate GOP. But then I thought the MAGA caucus has said if McCarthy gets it done that way with Dems, they’ll come after his speakership. Is McCarthy now implying he’d give up speakership? Maybe he would but I’m kind of surprised he’d offer that up pre shutdown.

I think they're hoping if they can separate Ukraine aid from the CR, that's enough cover for the MAGA to call it a win.

There's been a poster in another forum claiming that pulling Ukraine funding has always been the main issue due to kompromat. I'm starting to believe it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CNN - House GOP meets at 930a as a plan has been under discussion: a CR until Nov. 17 extending current funding with disaster aid, per sources. Put it under suspension (2/3 majority) and rely on D votes, something McCarthy’s hard-right has told him not to do.

Thanks for the update - saw it here first. This could still turn around.

As a fed selfishly thinking about my own bottom line (because obviously best for country is no shutdown), I hope we can either avoid this so I don't have to cancel Monday's important external meetings and delay their projects, or not reopen until Wednesday so i can avoid my 3 hour round trip commute for 10 hours on site Tuesday. A Sunday-Monday shutdown would be the most annoying scenario for me as an individual. Yes, DCUM, of course I don't think that's more important than anyone or anything else in the country, but House Republicans aren't asking me anyway.

I don't think we're going to have a long shutdown. Too few holdouts.

DP (also a Fed) - I think the structural issues will persist, even if they manage to get a relatively clean CR passed in time to reopen by Tuesday or Wednesday. The Freedom Caucus isn’t going to see the light in the next six weeks. There are still real differences between the House and the Senate. I don’t want the pain of a shutdown, but I also don’t want to go through this *again* November 16th. I’m not sure if there’s enough pressure for people to cooperate without the consequences of a shutdown. IMO, a CR just means we repeat this cycle ad nauseum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am going to continue to work while furloughed. Fortunately I was able to print off a lot of stuff to read and mark up during the furlough so I do not expect to be too far behind when we return.

Technically, that is illegal and I would not brag about it.

Dp. Pffft. I would absolutely continue working. I love this country and won’t do anything that supports the right wing anarchists who want to burn it down. Previous poster - you go girl!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like some of you are getting a (delayed paid) vacation.

Please don’t put it those terms. Feds just want to do their jobs, like everyone else. Nothing — and I mean nothing — about this is vacation-like.

You are not working, and getting paid for it. That's about as vacation-like as it gets.

You know it’s not a vacation.

If someone told me I couldn't work, would get paid for the time, and needed to stay home, I'd absolutely consider it a vacation. The fact that you can't spend it at the beach doesn't change that.

Do your vacations usually end at arbitrary times without notice and require you to report to work within four hours?

I would be ok with that! I’d stay home and get caught up on projects around the house. Read a few books, try new recipes, exercise….

But it’s not a vacation.

DP. Fine, don't want to call it a vacation? Call it welfare entitlement. You are being paid not to work.

Unlike my family. My spouse like you will get back pay, except that they are excepted and will have to work for the delayed pay. They don't get to clean the garage, the freezer, or go for a walk in the park, because they will still be working. I am a contractor, so I will be like you, at home and at leisure to do anything within recall of work. Except that you get paid and I don't.

So you are like the welfare recipients. You don't work, but you still get a handout from the federal government.

Maybe this is hard for you to understand, but some of us like our jobs, are invested in what we do, and really resent this needless disruption. So much time wasted this week planning for a possible shutdown. This "vacation" you call it at home will come back to bite later when I'm trying to catch up. The a-hats in Congress behind this are the ones not doing their jobs.

And all my reports are contractors. I am furious that they have this uncertainty and could lose pay. It's ridiculous.

Such misplaced resentment from that poster. I guess I’ll be on a “vacation” as you call it but I didn’t ask for it. I’m not going anywhere - DH working, kids I’m school and I likely will be called as essential for some brief periods. I may do some nice things - read some books, lunch with friends, exercise classes but what am I supposed to do? I didn’t create this situation.

You could work.

What do you mean? Feds aren’t supposed to work a second job unless it is pre-approved by their agency. So my understanding is they can’t have a side job during the shutdown unless they already got that approved ahead of time.

Interesting. At my agency you can log onto the system for 2-3 specific reasons and one of them is to get approval for a 2nd job. And the Ethics folks are being treated as essential so they’ll be there to approve/disapprove.

oh wow. what agency is this? that was great forsight.

Financial regulator. We think about $ first - including our own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CNN - House GOP meets at 930a as a plan has been under discussion: a CR until Nov. 17 extending current funding with disaster aid, per sources. Put it under suspension (2/3 majority) and rely on D votes, something McCarthy’s hard-right has told him not to do.

So I haven’t followed the politics of this so could someone explain - I though the reason a clean CR wasn’t an option weeks ago is bc the MAGA caucus demanded that any CR/budget have huge spending cuts. Granted maybe a clean CR passes without them - w Dems + moderate GOP. But then I thought the MAGA caucus has said if McCarthy gets it done that way with Dems, they’ll come after his speakership. Is McCarthy now implying he’d give up speakership? Maybe he would but I’m kind of surprised he’d offer that up pre shutdown.

I think they're hoping if they can separate Ukraine aid from the CR, that's enough cover for the MAGA to call it a win.

There's been a poster in another forum claiming that pulling Ukraine funding has always been the main issue due to kompromat. I'm starting to believe it.

I believe it too. The wapo called this “the shutdown about nothing.” It’s about something and this is it.