Key figures accused of harassment, bullying and attacks as US employees work without pay to keep services running

Key figures accused of harassment, bullying and attacks as US employees work without pay to keep services running

As the US federal shutdown enters its second month, government workers are accusing the Trump administration of being “out of control” and bullying people who are “simply trying to do their best”.

The shutdown surpassed 35 days this week, beating the previous record set under Donald Trump’s first presidential term. About 700,000 federal employees are furloughed without pay, and about 700,000 additional federal workers have been working without pay through the shutdown.

Affected workers say the shutdown has been a continuation of attacks they have experienced under the Trump administration, from mass firings – many of which have been overturned or blocked in federal courts – to drastic budget cuts, pushes to take early retirements or resignation buyouts, and threats of withholding back pay for workers furloughed during the shutdown.

  • Kindness is Punk@lemmy.ca
    101·
    2 days ago

    I wish the average voting populace was smart enough to understand that the Republicans were literally using starving children as leverage to cut their healthcare.

    • gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world
      441·
      2 days ago

      Based on the elections this week and a bunch of polls over the last thirty days, I’m pretty sure they are actually

        • huquad@lemmy.mlEnglish
          6·
          2 days ago

          I am 100% with you on the cynicism, but that also let’s them do what they want. As hard as it is, we have to keep vigilantly fighting for our rights.

      • jj4211@lemmy.world
        3·
        2 days ago

        But still, it’s like 40% actively voting for the GOP even in this scenario. It’s crazy that GOP basically has an absolute lock on 40% of the population no matter what they do.

      • blazeknave@lemmy.world
        1·
        2 days ago

        I figured that was Independents. I assume anyone else is entrenched in media echo chambers preventing open mindedness. I don’t get the maga folks who quit- how are they coming across information that would persuade them?

    • jj4211@lemmy.world
      8·
      2 days ago

      I heard this report where they went to a charity food pantry in deeply Trump territory to get their perspective on the whole benefits being stopped.

      This woman talked about how it was a good thing for SNAP and everything like it to go away, people need to take care of themselves. Immediately recognizing that it was an odd thing for her to say, since she was there to get food from the charity, she clarifies “I take care of myself and don’t need a handout, I’m just here because I might like some of the food for myself”.

      This woman didn’t want people thinking of her as in need and thought it sounded better if she was taking food away from the poorer people…

      This is how Trump still carries like 40% of the population approving of him.

    • boaratio@lemmy.world
      12·
      2 days ago

      The same Republicans that separated families and put kids in cages during the last Trump administration, so that they had a bargaining chip to force immigration reform? Color me shocked.