The holidays are, ideally, a time for a break; the melancholic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” promises our “troubles will be out of sight.” But in the Trump era, we can’t even take the holidays off. Our president wants his Border Wall, and he wants it so bad that he was willing to partially shut down the government, thereby stiffing thousands of employees during a time that should be relaxing. He even agreed to take the blame for it — until he flip-flopped, possibly upon realizing it wouldn’t be warmly received.
There have been heartwarming stories about epic gregariousness. But there are also plenty of heartbreaking stories, of people whose lives have been put in jeopardy, or worse. Some of those have been shared by the news. Luckily, for those who haven’t, there’s many public forums on which to air their grievances. Some have taken to Twitter to tell their stories, using the hashtag “#ShutDownStories.
Some are worried about their families.
https://twitter.com/TaylorFutch1/status/1077049606293409792
A TSA friend, who lives on a pay check to pay, a family of three depends on him, is spending his holidays without pay. #ShutdownStories
— Jhakri (@Okharbot) December 24, 2018
We had a baby two months ago (10/24/18); I have been on unpaid leave since then. Husband works with USFS, is our primary earner. Without his income, I don’t know what we will do. We have enough in savings to cover the mortgage in January, but beyond that… 🤷🏻♀️#ShutdownStories pic.twitter.com/2EV4qAXC0C
— Little Sarah (@theSarawithanH) December 24, 2018
Some have had unexpected setbacks that are now snowballing.
https://twitter.com/eskimita01/status/1077105137242365953
Some are trying to joke about it, if even just a little.
Day 1 of the #Shutdown:
Got my furlough papers. Had brunch with fellow feds.
Obsessively checked news and bank accounts.
Contemplated a “#shutdownbeard
Drank @Jameson_US with @bstiteler, ate mom's Christmas cookies. Fell asleep to @BritishBakeOff. #shutdownstories
— Sharon Stiteler 🐀 (@birdchick) December 24, 2018
Some are scared by a bureaucratic nightmare that just somehow got worse.
https://twitter.com/DaSilva_7/status/1077254867947872256
#ShutdownStories remember that even when employees get paid later, it won’t cover the late fees, overdraft fees and shutoff/turn on fees that they incurred because of missing wages.
— Allyson Reid (@atlemont) December 24, 2018
Some are just hurting.
https://twitter.com/chirony/status/1077199815421747203
Furlough exempt, all leave canceled and must report to work. Will be paid but no idea when if this drags out. If we don't report we're placed in furlough for the duration, no guarantee of pay. No, @MarkMeadows, we didn't "sign up" for this. #ShutdownStories
— Phallguy (@phallock) December 24, 2018
Can’t review govt clinical guidelines or search PubMed. Can’t get veterans seen non-emergently. Can’t get students’ GI Bill money. Can’t get passports updated. Can’t submit or receive research grants. #ShutdownStories
— Shasta Barbell (@shastabarbell) December 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/Athena7151/status/1077202635730575360
A TSA friend, who lives on a pay check to pay, a family of three depends on him, is spending his holidays without pay. #ShutdownStories
— Jhakri (@Okharbot) December 24, 2018
Some feel compelled to do their job anyway, hoping to be paid back.
#Shutdownstories I don't mind working – I provide safe drinking water to visitors in a national park. Can't stop doing that just because of a shutdown; there's a duty involved there. Hope they'll pay me back eventually
— russ #BidenDelivers 🌊🌊🇺🇦 (@skousenisdumb) December 24, 2018
Some have non-government jobs that are still affected:
https://twitter.com/DrNikkiMartinez/status/1077095943726604288
My husband is a tattoo artist. 3 clients have canceled because they doubt they’ll have paychecks. That’s our paycheck for the week after Xmas. #ThanksTrump #ShutdownStories #TrumpChristmasShutdown
— THE HERD HOUSE (@TheHerdHouse) December 23, 2018
I spoke today to Audrey Murray, 59, who works for private companies that clean the Smithsonian and State Dept. She’s lost both jobs bc of the shutdown, and unsure how she’ll pay her mortgage on 1/1.
“It’s just so depressing,” she said through tears.https://t.co/mD3oJsOw2O
— Jimmy Vielkind (@JimmyVielkind) December 24, 2018
Here’s a good idea.
Idea: use the millions raised on the Wall-GoFundMe to pay federal workers’ late fees, interest payments, etc. Chances are that guy is never gonna donate the $ to govt anyway. #shutdownstories
— Megan Southard (@southardmeg) December 24, 2018
Meanwhile, the president was complaining about not being able to go to Florida.
Best of luck to all these people. Hopefully this will all be over soon.