Fed Government Shutdown 2025: non-political thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plan to be back in office Tuesday. Nice that he gave people the weekend to get back from furloughcation.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-calls-on-senate-republicans-to-get-rid-of-the-filibuster/

And back on furlough Nov 21, since the House won't come back due to the Epstein discharge petition.

Why? Do they need the House to open the government ?

If the Senate were to somehow come to pass the current CR, they aren’t needed.

If the Senate comes to agreement to change any aspect of the CR, the House is needed.

Good thing what passed the house a month ago was a clean CR, what every democrat advocated for in prior shutdowns.

It’s not clean though, because a clean CR means it is identical to the prior year and last year had the Obamacare subsidies.

It absolutely is clean because the existing law had those subsidies expiring.

But it radically changes existing spending levels. You don’t think expiring tax cuts wouldn’t be reserved??

Democrats were in charge when they passed the new subsidies to be time limited. (The original ACA subsidies remain in place) If they were intended to be permanent they should have done it when they passed it. It’s poor and lazy legislating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plan to be back in office Tuesday. Nice that he gave people the weekend to get back from furloughcation.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-calls-on-senate-republicans-to-get-rid-of-the-filibuster/

And back on furlough Nov 21, since the House won't come back due to the Epstein discharge petition.

Why? Do they need the House to open the government ?

If the Senate were to somehow come to pass the current CR, they aren’t needed.

If the Senate comes to agreement to change any aspect of the CR, the House is needed.

Good thing what passed the house a month ago was a clean CR, what every democrat advocated for in prior shutdowns.

It’s not clean though, because a clean CR means it is identical to the prior year and last year had the Obamacare subsidies.

It absolutely is clean because the existing law had those subsidies expiring.

But it radically changes existing spending levels. You don’t think expiring tax cuts wouldn’t be reserved??

Democrats were in charge when they passed the new subsidies to be time limited. (The original ACA subsidies remain in place) If they were intended to be permanent they should have done it when they passed it. It’s poor and lazy legislating.

Absurd take. Everything is a compromise and everything can be revisited. The Republicans also will take what they can get (e.g. tax cuts that sunset after a few years, which they reupped when Trump came back into office).

[Anonymous]

I was really struggling to be furloughed. Having worked since I was 14( lawn care, babysitting, then graduated to target in high school, Starbucks, did work study in college, on and on). I was never without a job. And now that I am 30 days or so of not going to work, not being productive, a small bought of boredom induced depression- I actually am enjoying my furlough and have no desire to go back. In my government job- I have mandatory overtime usually associated with end of fiscal year shenanigans and the burnout is real. I have about 5 months of emergency funds and outside of my static bill- I don’t feel a need to spend. I may be one of the few - but this furlough is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was really struggling to be furloughed. Having worked since I was 14( lawn care, babysitting, then graduated to target in high school, Starbucks, did work study in college, on and on). I was never without a job. And now that I am 30 days or so of not going to work, not being productive, a small bought of boredom induced depression- I actually am enjoying my furlough and have no desire to go back. In my government job- I have mandatory overtime usually associated with end of fiscal year shenanigans and the burnout is real. I have about 5 months of emergency funds and outside of my static bill- I don’t feel a need to spend. I may be one of the few - but this furlough is great.

Furlough is fine enough in times past, but if you have no back pay or targeted for RIF because of furlough, doesn’t that weigh on you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was really struggling to be furloughed. Having worked since I was 14( lawn care, babysitting, then graduated to target in high school, Starbucks, did work study in college, on and on). I was never without a job. And now that I am 30 days or so of not going to work, not being productive, a small bought of boredom induced depression- I actually am enjoying my furlough and have no desire to go back. In my government job- I have mandatory overtime usually associated with end of fiscal year shenanigans and the burnout is real. I have about 5 months of emergency funds and outside of my static bill- I don’t feel a need to spend. I may be one of the few - but this furlough is great.

Furlough is fine enough in times past, but if you have no back pay or targeted for RIF because of furlough, doesn’t that weigh on you?

I could have written pp's post. No, the empty threats of no back pay or being targeted for RIFs do not concern me even an iota. The administration is going to RIF whoever they want anyway, and I'm in an office Republicans favor and our political sent word we will not be targeted for RIFs anyway. The insurance companies that hoover up a large fraction of our paychecks need to be paid, and we all know large corporations are the ones in charge of our country. So we will get our pay so that they can get their cut. Like pp I have never had such a long break and I've been terribly productive but also able to rest and relax. In most of the developed world over a month of vacation is actually a normal thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was really struggling to be furloughed. Having worked since I was 14( lawn care, babysitting, then graduated to target in high school, Starbucks, did work study in college, on and on). I was never without a job. And now that I am 30 days or so of not going to work, not being productive, a small bought of boredom induced depression- I actually am enjoying my furlough and have no desire to go back. In my government job- I have mandatory overtime usually associated with end of fiscal year shenanigans and the burnout is real. I have about 5 months of emergency funds and outside of my static bill- I don’t feel a need to spend. I may be one of the few - but this furlough is great.

Furlough is fine enough in times past, but if you have no back pay or targeted for RIF because of furlough, doesn’t that weigh on you?

NP. The only way this is weighing on me is that I'm starting to consider applying to outside jobs, when even as recently as last month I truly thought I was in my forever job. And, well, *waves hand at everything*.

In the mean time, I'm getting quite a lot of chores and catching up with friends done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was really struggling to be furloughed. Having worked since I was 14( lawn care, babysitting, then graduated to target in high school, Starbucks, did work study in college, on and on). I was never without a job. And now that I am 30 days or so of not going to work, not being productive, a small bought of boredom induced depression- I actually am enjoying my furlough and have no desire to go back. In my government job- I have mandatory overtime usually associated with end of fiscal year shenanigans and the burnout is real. I have about 5 months of emergency funds and outside of my static bill- I don’t feel a need to spend. I may be one of the few - but this furlough is great.

Furlough is fine enough in times past, but if you have no back pay or targeted for RIF because of furlough, doesn’t that weigh on you?

I could have written pp's post. No, the empty threats of no back pay or being targeted for RIFs do not concern me even an iota. The administration is going to RIF whoever they want anyway, and I'm in an office Republicans favor and our political sent word we will not be targeted for RIFs anyway. The insurance companies that hoover up a large fraction of our paychecks need to be paid, and we all know large corporations are the ones in charge of our country. So we will get our pay so that they can get their cut. Like pp I have never had such a long break and I've been terribly productive but also able to rest and relax. In most of the developed world over a month of vacation is actually a normal thing.

Why do you think they are empty threats? A long shutdown with no back pay they will see some feds quit and look for jobs.

They same they can be like corporate America and get people to leave and hire cheaper replacements if they ever need to.

They want to fund favored agencies only
https://www.flyingmag.com/senators-back-bill-to-pay-faa-tsa-staff/

Name your office, republicans favor is meaningless — it’s how Trump can benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was really struggling to be furloughed. Having worked since I was 14( lawn care, babysitting, then graduated to target in high school, Starbucks, did work study in college, on and on). I was never without a job. And now that I am 30 days or so of not going to work, not being productive, a small bought of boredom induced depression- I actually am enjoying my furlough and have no desire to go back. In my government job- I have mandatory overtime usually associated with end of fiscal year shenanigans and the burnout is real. I have about 5 months of emergency funds and outside of my static bill- I don’t feel a need to spend. I may be one of the few - but this furlough is great.

Furlough is fine enough in times past, but if you have no back pay or targeted for RIF because of furlough, doesn’t that weigh on you?

NP. The only way this is weighing on me is that I'm starting to consider applying to outside jobs, when even as recently as last month I truly thought I was in my forever job. And, well, *waves hand at everything*.

In the mean time, I'm getting quite a lot of chores and catching up with friends done.

That is the goal. If you have outside options, you should go. Well unless you are over 45 because you could be hired and then laid off for ageism.

[Anonymous]

What have you all done with all these free time when kids are in school ? I have been watching dramas and walking in neighborhood. Some people I know feel lonely and a bit depressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What have you all done with all these free time when kids are in school ? I have been watching dramas and walking in neighborhood. Some people I know feel lonely and a bit depressed.

There is a productivity post in off topic. Lots of great ideas there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plan to be back in office Tuesday. Nice that he gave people the weekend to get back from furloughcation.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-calls-on-senate-republicans-to-get-rid-of-the-filibuster/

And back on furlough Nov 21, since the House won't come back due to the Epstein discharge petition.

Why? Do they need the House to open the government ?

If the Senate were to somehow come to pass the current CR, they aren’t needed.

If the Senate comes to agreement to change any aspect of the CR, the House is needed.

Good thing what passed the house a month ago was a clean CR, what every democrat advocated for in prior shutdowns.

It’s not clean though, because a clean CR means it is identical to the prior year and last year had the Obamacare subsidies.

It absolutely is clean because the existing law had those subsidies expiring.

But it radically changes existing spending levels. You don’t think expiring tax cuts wouldn’t be reserved??

Democrats were in charge when they passed the new subsidies to be time limited. (The original ACA subsidies remain in place) If they were intended to be permanent they should have done it when they passed it. It’s poor and lazy legislating.

Absurd take. Everything is a compromise and everything can be revisited. The Republicans also will take what they can get (e.g. tax cuts that sunset after a few years, which they reupped when Trump came back into office).

This happens all the time. The temporary becomes permanent as it's hard to take things away. Trumps tax cuts are a good example. They were supposed to cover his 2 term presidency. They are now permanent courtesy of the same people who made them temporary.

[Anonymous]

What are Dems offering to compromise on to trade for the spending of extended subsidies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are Dems offering to compromise on to trade for the spending of extended subsidies?

This is supposed to be the non-political thread. Go to politics forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was really struggling to be furloughed. Having worked since I was 14( lawn care, babysitting, then graduated to target in high school, Starbucks, did work study in college, on and on). I was never without a job. And now that I am 30 days or so of not going to work, not being productive, a small bought of boredom induced depression- I actually am enjoying my furlough and have no desire to go back. In my government job- I have mandatory overtime usually associated with end of fiscal year shenanigans and the burnout is real. I have about 5 months of emergency funds and outside of my static bill- I don’t feel a need to spend. I may be one of the few - but this furlough is great.

Furlough is fine enough in times past, but if you have no back pay or targeted for RIF because of furlough, doesn’t that weigh on you?

I could have written pp's post. No, the empty threats of no back pay or being targeted for RIFs do not concern me even an iota. The administration is going to RIF whoever they want anyway, and I'm in an office Republicans favor and our political sent word we will not be targeted for RIFs anyway. The insurance companies that hoover up a large fraction of our paychecks need to be paid, and we all know large corporations are the ones in charge of our country. So we will get our pay so that they can get their cut. Like pp I have never had such a long break and I've been terribly productive but also able to rest and relax. In most of the developed world over a month of vacation is actually a normal thing.

Why do you think they are empty threats? A long shutdown with no back pay they will see some feds quit and look for jobs.

They same they can be like corporate America and get people to leave and hire cheaper replacements if they ever need to.

They want to fund favored agencies only
https://www.flyingmag.com/senators-back-bill-to-pay-faa-tsa-staff/

Name your office, republicans favor is meaningless — it’s how Trump can benefit.

LOL sorry but the media isn’t giving you the full story if that is what you think. The administration has been quietly rehiring people in my department that they made a very big show of eliminating via EO. And I mean a lot of people. And yes, there are certain favored offices and people with connections can get past their rules. It’s a corrupt administration which means you’re not going to actually know what’s going on as a citizen, sorry. So no, I’m not worried.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I just love that you're held to this standard, and you and your coworkers all valiantly defend the optics, while certain people (not going to get political though I'll be general) accept gifts from foreign governments, manipulate the stock market, and insist that foreign dignitaries, security, etc. stay in private locations owned by them or their businesses or their friends....