As the U.S. federal government shutdown (work stoppage) triggered by Congress' failure to pass a budget drags on, public workers who have lost income are flocking to "food banks." Americans with little in savings take a big hit even if just one month's pay is cut off, and public workers are no exception.
According to major U.S. media on the 23rd (local time), scenes are being witnessed across the United States of federal public workers whose pay has been cut off standing in long lines to receive free food at food banks. The federal government shutdown that began on the 1st has entered its fourth week, and an estimated 750,000 federal public workers have gone on unpaid leave during this period.
The Washington Post (WP) said, "As the shutdown enters its fourth week, federal public workers are facing financial hardship," adding, "While charitable groups such as Capital Area Food Bank are supporting all federal public workers, more and more airport and aviation industry groups are helping colleagues through workplace food drives and donation boxes in terminals."
Airport employees are designated as "essential staff" and must work without pay during the shutdown. According to WP, Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, began operating a food bank on the 20th, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Michigan worked with airport companies to allow employees to purchase food and beverages within $20 (about 29,000 won).
Luke Nimo, public affairs officer at the Clark County Department of Aviation, which includes Las Vegas, said, "When we first opened the food bank, the food was gone immediately," adding, "We are replenishing stock right away because demand is high."
The reason U.S. public workers are taking a big hit from a shutdown that has not even lasted a month is because they lack "emergency funds." According to a survey by personal finance consultancy Bankrate earlier this year, 59% of Americans do not have savings to cover an unexpected $1,000 (about 1.43 million won) emergency expenditure. For this reason, during the first shutdown of the Donald Trump administration, unpaid public workers also faced livelihood difficulties.
Service members seeking food banks are also surging. According to ASYMCA, a nonprofit that supports U.S. service members and their families, demand for food banks near military bases has increased 30% to 75% since the shutdown. Amy George, senior vice president for service member and family support at ASYMCA, told ABC News, "It is surprising and shocking to see uniformed service members raise their hands and say, 'I need some food assistance.'"
CNN reported on the 21st that 1.4 million federal employees are currently on unpaid leave or working without pay, and highlighted the case of Summer Kirksik, a federal contract worker in Washington, D.C., who stood in line for two hours at a food bank to receive food. Kirk said, "My rent is due next week, so I'll take whatever I can get," adding, "Right now, I have to pinch pennies."
As signs grow that the shutdown will be prolonged, public workers' worries are expected to deepen further. According to The New York Times (NYT), the U.S. Senate on this day rejected two bills that would guarantee pay for public workers, including service members, during the shutdown. The Republican and Democratic parties each introduced a bill, but both failed to pass due to opposition from the other side. As a result, on the upcoming 24th, the pay date, more than 500,000 federal employees will not receive a single cent of their two weeks' pay.
Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, chief executive officer (CEO) of Feeding America, a U.S. relief organization, said in a statement, "In the United States, many people need help from local food banks after just one missed paycheck," adding, "If the shutdown is prolonged, this burden will grow, and more households will seek help from food banks that are already under pressure from high demand."