Fed Government Shutdown 2025: non-political thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are Fed Workers who are not going to office not working? Clean gutters, mow lawns, paint houses, dog walking, intacart, door dash, uber, care.com

In Covid when the rest of us Canned with no back pay and we could not get unemployment payments for months as you guys at Unemployment had dated systems to do it online and shut the offices and stopped answering the phones we all did all of the above to hustle.

Why not work? My neighbors kids started a car detailing business in driveway in covid, my kids did door dash, instacart and started a side consulting business.

But why are they at starbucks and netflix and chilling go do some work.

Regarding your complaints about unemployment, who exactly are you angry at? Unemployment payments are managed by the States, not the feds. So your anger at "you guys at Unemployment" should not be directed at federal employees.

Maybe you could direct your ire at Congress for failing to provide sufficient funding to the states to update the system the state uses? Or at the state (or District) for failing to update their system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:remember when DOGE was so certain that we were all working second jobs that they were violating security in order to get our tax records?

I remember. Assume they will try this again to "catch" trying to eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I have to submit all the statements from our 401(k) and 529 accounts for review, every year.

Wow - I’m a public filer and have to disclose these, as well as any reportable debt, but have never had
to submit statements for review. Are you financial regulatory, LE, or IC?

Yes.
TBC, I was fine with these rules and restrictions. But they used to be balanced by a stable income.

Same with the oath not to strike - fine, because we had other protections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are Fed Workers who are not going to office not working? Clean gutters, mow lawns, paint houses, dog walking, intacart, door dash, uber, care.com

In Covid when the rest of us Canned with no back pay and we could not get unemployment payments for months as you guys at Unemployment had dated systems to do it online and shut the offices and stopped answering the phones we all did all of the above to hustle.

Why not work? My neighbors kids started a car detailing business in driveway in covid, my kids did door dash, instacart and started a side consulting business.

But why are they at starbucks and netflix and chilling go do some work.

some people are, but it is generally restricted by ethics clearance (and those ethics people aren't there right now), and it's not like we can sign up for a job that would be consistent in the future (nor would someone needing a consistent hire, hire us).

that is a big fat lie. Look Gardners by me are charging $1,000 to clean up leaves this year. Are you telling me if a Fed rang my doorbell and said for $800 cash I will remove all your leaves is not allowed? Or detail a car for $200 cash, or paint your neighbors kids bedroom for $500 bucks.


Sounds like excuses. Or you could just barter. When my family had financial troubles when I was a teen we need new water heater in summer. Mom made a deal I work for guy a few weeks in summer for free. He was really happy. Was kinda fun. I spend a month helping him on jobs. That is barter a Fed could do that. Plus Feds kids and spouse can work. If all five of you are sitting home doing nothing and you are expecting handouts when there is a massive labor shortage that is crazy.

Whenever I'm breaking my agency's ethics rules, I for sure also like to add a side of tax fraud.

Right?! I snorted when I read PP.

I wish people understood the very tight restrictions placed on federal employees (that are not placed on your members of Congress!)

I have to report every source of income to my agency, including my spouse's eBay sales. I have to submit all the statements from our 401(k) and 529 accounts for review, every year. I can't teach a night class or pick up a side gig without approval. I can't own certain stock. I can't accept certain gifts. I can't run for office or fundraise for candidates. I am specifically forbidden from helping friends and relatives who are trying to interact with any federal agency or court (so, I can't help grandma figure out her SSA paperwork).
I don't pay under the table, I don't hire anybody whose legality is in question, I don't do anything that could look like a favor or a conflict of interest - because my job is on the line.

All for PP to say "hur, why don't you consult on the side?" PP, you don't want a federal bureaucracy that consults on the side, that is a corrupt system!

Exactly. People don't realize what you sign up for when you are a federal employee. My DHs federal job governs which stocks I can own.

It's not like feds can just go off and get another random job, particularly if it is at all related to your current position, or even if it's not.

Yep, same for my HHS job. Most people with my type of job outside of the fed consult on the side, or develop spin-off companies, or (very commonly) accept honorariums for invited lectures/seminars. All of those are forbidden in the government, even if you aren’t in a policy-influencing role. Heck, I can’t even invest in most of the usual individual stocks that others would (mutual funds are ok). I even had to get ethics approval to join my neighborhood HOA board and volunteer as a science fair judge. Even the appearance of a conflict of interest is forbidden.

+1, I have to report that I'm the volunteer treasurer for a club.

I can't serve on the board of my church because the church has a retirement fund for staff that is invested in companies my agency might regulate: creates the appearance of a conflict of interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are Fed Workers who are not going to office not working? Clean gutters, mow lawns, paint houses, dog walking, intacart, door dash, uber, care.com

In Covid when the rest of us Canned with no back pay and we could not get unemployment payments for months as you guys at Unemployment had dated systems to do it online and shut the offices and stopped answering the phones we all did all of the above to hustle.

Why not work? My neighbors kids started a car detailing business in driveway in covid, my kids did door dash, instacart and started a side consulting business.

But why are they at starbucks and netflix and chilling go do some work.

Partly bc we don’t know when we’ll be back in the office. I can’t exactly book house painting jobs when I could be back in the office on Wednesday.

And we do have ethics and outside activity requirements. My federal CPA DH got a slap on the wrist for not reporting that he was doing volunteer work for a couple of weeks at a church doing free tax prep for low income citizens.

[Anonymous]

So is the House just never ever coming back? This strategy of Johnson’s has no end game. He can’t keep them out foreverrrrr. This is all so dumb. Won’t Republicans eventually turn on him as their constituents begin to notice they’re not working? This plan is so childish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are Fed Workers who are not going to office not working? Clean gutters, mow lawns, paint houses, dog walking, intacart, door dash, uber, care.com

In Covid when the rest of us Canned with no back pay and we could not get unemployment payments for months as you guys at Unemployment had dated systems to do it online and shut the offices and stopped answering the phones we all did all of the above to hustle.

Why not work? My neighbors kids started a car detailing business in driveway in covid, my kids did door dash, instacart and started a side consulting business.

But why are they at starbucks and netflix and chilling go do some work.

some people are, but it is generally restricted by ethics clearance (and those ethics people aren't there right now), and it's not like we can sign up for a job that would be consistent in the future (nor would someone needing a consistent hire, hire us).

that is a big fat lie. Look Gardners by me are charging $1,000 to clean up leaves this year. Are you telling me if a Fed rang my doorbell and said for $800 cash I will remove all your leaves is not allowed? Or detail a car for $200 cash, or paint your neighbors kids bedroom for $500 bucks.


Sounds like excuses. Or you could just barter. When my family had financial troubles when I was a teen we need new water heater in summer. Mom made a deal I work for guy a few weeks in summer for free. He was really happy. Was kinda fun. I spend a month helping him on jobs. That is barter a Fed could do that. Plus Feds kids and spouse can work. If all five of you are sitting home doing nothing and you are expecting handouts when there is a massive labor shortage that is crazy.

If we do any of these things we can't tell anyone because it could be reported to ethics and then we would be fired, depending on the situation. Even some volunteer work is prohibited, if related to our jobs.

Most of our spouses are working at non fed jobs, but it takes two incomes in the DC metro to afford necessities for many of us. And some people are dual feds.

its almost like you've never worked for the federal government OP. And off books cash activities would have to kept especially secret.

[Anonymous]

Let them eat cake! That appears to be the message

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are Fed Workers who are not going to office not working? Clean gutters, mow lawns, paint houses, dog walking, intacart, door dash, uber, care.com

In Covid when the rest of us Canned with no back pay and we could not get unemployment payments for months as you guys at Unemployment had dated systems to do it online and shut the offices and stopped answering the phones we all did all of the above to hustle.

Why not work? My neighbors kids started a car detailing business in driveway in covid, my kids did door dash, instacart and started a side consulting business.

But why are they at starbucks and netflix and chilling go do some work.

You are seriously stupid.

[Anonymous]

If enough Republicans feel the heat with the election results on Tuesday, will they vote Johnson out and replace him with someone who will reopen the house and stop this unwillingness to work with others to reopen the government?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If enough Republicans feel the heat with the election results on Tuesday, will they vote Johnson out and replace him with someone who will reopen the house and stop this unwillingness to work with others to reopen the government?

Vote Johnson out - no

Reopen the government - million dollar question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If enough Republicans feel the heat with the election results on Tuesday, will they vote Johnson out and replace him with someone who will reopen the house and stop this unwillingness to work with others to reopen the government?

Vote Johnson out - no

Reopen the government - million dollar question

Johnson needs to go to jail for enabling a criminal traitor

[Anonymous]

If the Democrats win on Tuesday it will embolden them and they will be more inclined to seek out real concessions from the Republicans, which would prolong the shutdown even more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So is the House just never ever coming back? This strategy of Johnson’s has no end game. He can’t keep them out foreverrrrr. This is all so dumb. Won’t Republicans eventually turn on him as their constituents begin to notice they’re not working? This plan is so childish.

No they are not coming back that has always been the plan. They can't, Epstein and The Heritage Foundation who wants everyone poor and hungry.

Dems were dumb to have seated one Republican when they were in power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the Democrats win on Tuesday it will embolden them and they will be more inclined to seek out real concessions from the Republicans, which would prolong the shutdown even more.

No that will not happen.

Republicans have the majority they can stop this right now.