In Louisiana, families are starting to feel the pinch in their paychecks because of what is happening in Washington, D.C.
WDSU Reporter Shay O’Connor talked to area residents who said they could not afford the confusion.
“The price of food is steadily going up. Now this? We all are just going to have to make do the best we can. Unfortunately,” said a woman who did not want to be identified.
The woman said she had been working at a local social security office for years while trying to provide for her two kids.
The last thing she expected was the government shutdown.
“We were paid this last week. And my check was $600 shorter than what it usually is. That’s a huge impact on me because I have so many responsibilities,” she said.
She is what you would call an essential employee. She is still working without knowing what the future holds.
“I have a senior in college. A senior in high school. And things I am responsible for,” she said.
She is one of thousands of government employees across the U.S. who either did not receive pay, didn’t get the right pay, or have been told not to come to work under the shutdown.
The Trump administration laid off thousands of workers just last week.
Dr. Silas Lee, a local political analyst, said, “First, in terms of workers, it’s disruptive to them financially and psychologically. This level of uncertainty and stress creates a lot of anxiety.”
Some jobs being impacted include national security, military, public safety, air traffic control, and disaster aid.
Lawmakers have failed to reach an agreement over funding. Trump’s budget chief, Russ Vought, warned there could be thousands more layoffs.
Vought said, “We want to be as aggressive as we can. It’ll probably be more than 10,000.”
While it’s typical to see some government workers furloughed, mass firings have many living in fear, not knowing how they would support their families.
“It is a lot. I am not the only person being impacted in my family. It’s also my mom. She’s been a federal employee for 40 years. We just have to figure it out. Day by day.”
Just Thursday, a judge put an immediate stop to the Trump administration’s layoff plans, ruling the shutdown was not an excuse for widespread layoffs.
READ MORE:NOLA government workers impacted by shutdown say it’s tough not receiving pay
