Government reopens

Cate Tucker, Assistant News Editor

After 35 days of questions with little to no answers, federal workers are receiving their paychecks for the first time in over a month after working without pay. The government has reopened after the longest partial shutdown in American history, which took a toll on bank accounts and the unemployment rate. Since this is the second partial government shutdown in a year, people find that working for a federal agency feels even less rewarding than it has in the past, according to Partnership CEO Max Steir.

“Yes, it (shutdown) had real financial implications, but even more than that, it disrupted the core value proposition of the job, which is to be able to make a difference, go work for a purpose,” Steir said.

According to ACSI Federal Government Report 2018, satisfaction with U.S. Government services was at the second highest level since 2008 prior to the shutdown, but during the shutdown, employee morale was low and agencies were finding it hard to get people to work for a federal agency. Many were scared of the uncertainty of being furloughed and some were scared of the threat of another shutdown in February, according to National Public Radio.

President Trump speaks in front of Congress during his State of the Union address on February 5, 2019. Bing Photo.

Even though the government has reopened and paychecks are being deposited, workers are still recovering from not being paid in 35 days. In Little Rock, AK, 25,000 pounds of food and supplies were donated to struggling federal workers and their families. Little Rock Cares and Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance are two organizations that are aiding families who have had a hard time making ends meet during the shutdown according to katv.com.

“A lot of people just got a paycheck for a very small amount. And after missing a couple of paychecks, people are behind,” Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance Executive Director Kathy Webb said. “They’re still in need of food”.

With the hopes of reaching a deal in Washington, hundreds of thousands of federal workers are finally returning to work.