Democrats of Indian River “Feeding Furloughed Feds”

The Indian River County Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) delivered food and other dry goods and gift cards to federal workers as part of its food drive for furloughed Federal workers, “Feeding Furloughed Feds.”  The Democrats of Indian River have been working with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) on the distribution of canned goods, dry goods, sanitary items, diapers, and gift cards to federal employees who work in our local area.  While the government shut down has been resolved for three weeks, Feds will not receive their back pay until Thursday or Friday on an agency-by-agency basis.

Indian River County DEC Vice Chair, Adriana de Kanter, said: “There are many unseen federal workers and their families in our community that have needed our immediate help.  The Democrats of Indian River work for working families.  Through no fault of their own, our federal friends have not been able to  work so we need to be there to help in our own small way.   We thank the AFGE for working with us to reach our local neighbors.  We are prepared to stage another drive if the need arises again.”

On the Treasure and Space Coasts, federal employees include Coast Guard Officers, Fish and Wildlife Services workers, Park Rangers, staff with the USDA, FAA Air Controllers, TSA workers, NASA employees, and many, many more.

 What Americans have experienced is the longest government shut-down in the history of the U.S. Government.  It occurred when the United States Congress and President Trump could not agree on an appropriations bill to fund the operations of the federal government for Fiscal Year 2019, or a temporary continuing resolution that would extend the deadline for passing a bill because of funds the President wants to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico. As a result, nine executive departments that work for the current Administration with around 800,000 employees had to shut down partially or in full, affecting about one-fourth of government activities and causing employee furloughs’ including workers in our area.  The current re-opening of the government is temporary.  After three weeks, the government may be shut down again.