Federal Shutdown Strains Hill Air Force Base Workers Financially

As the federal government shutdown extends with no resolution in sight, employees at Hill Air Force Base in Layton, Utah, are facing significant financial and emotional stress. Thousands of civilian workers are grappling with the uncertainty of unpaid wages, leading many to seek assistance from local food banks and zero-interest loans to sustain their families.

Brenda Jaramillo, the President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union, which represents approximately 8,000 civilian workers at the base, highlighted the demoralizing effects of the shutdown. “We have jobs that we take pride in,” she stated. “When did the federal employees become the enemy? And why isn’t Congress and the Senate being furloughed? They’re federal employees, and they’re the ones not doing their job.”

The emotional toll of this situation is palpable. Union secretary Jason Goff, a single parent, shared the challenges he faces. “I’m a single parent with two boys,” Goff explained. “My ex-wife has worked for the IRS for about 22 years. She’s furloughed.” This sentiment of financial insecurity is echoed across the base, as families worry about their ability to meet daily expenses.

Union representatives have also raised concerns regarding changes implemented by the Office of Personnel Management. They allege that the office has halted the practice of allowing union dues to be deducted from paychecks, which they interpret as a strategy to undermine union representation. The frustration is not confined to workers; families and local communities are feeling the strain as well.

“It’s ridiculous that they’re causing the whole nation, the people they’re supposed to represent, to have this kind of stress in their life,” remarked Terry Grant, the local AFGE Master Chief Steward. The sentiment among workers is clear: they feel neglected and unsupported by lawmakers during this crisis.

With Congress remaining gridlocked, union leaders are calling for accountability from lawmakers. “We have people that are living paycheck to paycheck, and they’re worrying now that they don’t have any money coming in,” Jaramillo emphasized. The ongoing shutdown has highlighted the precarious nature of employment for many federal workers, who are now left to navigate a landscape of uncertainty.

As the situation unfolds, the impact of the federal shutdown continues to resonate deeply, affecting not only the workers at Hill Air Force Base but also their families and the broader community. The urgent calls for resolution reflect a growing impatience for lawmakers to prioritize the well-being of those they represent.