Imagine waking up one morning to discover that your hard-earned paycheck has simply vanished, putting everything you've built—your home, your car, even your family's stability—at serious risk. That's the harsh reality facing countless hardworking individuals caught in the crossfire of a government shutdown. But here's where it gets controversial: while some workers get their pay back eventually, others are left scrambling with no such safety net. Let's dive into the stories of real people affected, and explore why this issue sparks such heated debate.
Take Willie Price, a determined 65-year-old who starts her day at the crack of dawn. Every Tuesday, she rises at 3 a.m. to deliver newspapers, earning just about 16 cents for each one she distributes. By 6:30 a.m., she's clocked in at her second job in food service at the Library of Congress on Capitol Hill, where she handles the cash register and brews coffee for patrons. But when the government shutdown hit on Wednesday, everything came to a screeching halt. Price, who relies on her $25-an-hour wage from this role, hasn't worked since Tuesday. If this standstill drags on, she'll be unable to cover her monthly bills.
'I don't even know what to do,' Price shared with CNBC Make It, describing her paycheck-to-paycheck existence. 'I could lose the house. I could lose my car. I could lose everything.'
Price is far from alone. She's one of numerous hourly contractors employed either directly by the government or through external companies, and these folks won't see a dime during the shutdown. For context, a government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to approve funding for federal operations, leading to temporary closures of non-essential services. Some full-time federal employees are assured they'll receive back pay once things resume, but contractors like Price are out of luck. This distinction is crucial for beginners to grasp: back pay means getting reimbursed for the time you didn't work, but only certain groups qualify.
Historically, these shutdowns have lasted around four days on average, though the record-breaker in 2018 stretched over a month. As of Friday afternoon, the Senate couldn't pass either of the funding bills needed to end this three-day impasse, pushing the shutdown at least through Monday, October 6. And this is the part most people miss: a longer shutdown could create enormous financial pressure on low-income workers who are already living on the edge.
Randy Erwin, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees—a union representing 110,000 federal workers across the country—highlighted this point. 'People think they can play with people's livelihoods,' he noted, emphasizing how these disruptions can devastate those barely making ends meet.
Starting October 6, Audrey Murray, a 64-year-old security officer, will stop receiving her $20.22-an-hour paycheck from her position at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. While she hopes to keep her second job at the State Department, that income alone won't suffice to cover her expenses. As a single mother to two teenage sons and a full-time caregiver for her 12-year-old granddaughter, Murray is in a tough spot.
'I'm just in limbo right now,' Murray told us. 'It's just funny how people think they can play with people's livelihoods. I do all the right things. I go to work.'
During the 2018 shutdown, Murray had to borrow money from relatives to get by, and it took her two full years to repay them. Each month, she shells out $2,200 for her mortgage, up to $600 on groceries for her family, plus utilities and childcare costs. She's already contemplating asking her kids to cut back on food portions.
'How am I going to feed my children and pay my bills?' Murray wondered aloud. 'I need to keep my electric on. I have to keep my gas on.'
The full scope of the impact remains uncertain, but the Congressional Budget Office estimates that roughly 750,000 federal government employees could be placed on unpaid leave for each day the shutdown persists. Low-wage workers, in particular, will feel the heaviest burden, according to Manny Pasterich, president of 32BJ SEIU, a union for 2,400 federally contracted security officers, cleaners, and food service staff.
'Not only do 32BJ members earn less than direct federal employees, but they also would be ineligible to receive back pay,' Pasterich stated in a Tuesday release. 'A government shutdown would turn their lives upside down, forcing many to risk eviction, have their utilities turned off and leave them unable to feed themselves and their families.'
At the Smithsonian, Murray reports that 'everyone' is anxious about the fallout. In recent days, she's witnessed colleagues breaking down in tears from the overwhelming stress.
'It's so sad to see everybody sad,' she said. 'People don't know how they're going to pay their bills. People don't know how they're going to put food on the table.'
This disparity in treatment—where some get back pay and others don't—raises eyebrows and fuels debate. Is it fair that contractors, who often perform essential roles like security and food service, are left without compensation while certain federal workers are protected? Critics argue it creates an uneven playing field, potentially discouraging people from taking these jobs. On the flip side, some might say that budget constraints make it necessary to prioritize direct employees. What do you think—should contractors receive the same back pay protections? And does this highlight a bigger issue with how we fund government operations? Share your opinions in the comments below; we'd love to hear differing viewpoints!
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