US federal workers have begun to feel the heat of government shutdown as it enters its second week, as many have resorted to even taking loans to cover everyday expenses. Since October 1, hundreds of thousands of federal employees have been furloughed, while others deemed essential, including some military personnel, must work without pay.All work and no pay“We kind of feel like we’re like a bargaining chip to an extent,” a long-serving US Air Force employee told AFP. “We’re not getting paid because people in DC who are getting paid can’t get on the same page.”“Not only are we working without pay, we’re actually doing more without pay, because our civilian teammates have all gone home on furlough,” he added. “That’s not good for troop morale.”The first grave signs of the shutdown’s impact will be felt next week, when federal employees start seeing their paychecks affected. If no deal is reached by the end of the month, they could receive nothing in the following paycheck.“It’s very stressful,” said Marilyn Richards, a 46-year-old Air Force and Navy veteran in Missouri, who has been furloughed from her administrative support role at a federal agency.Richards, the main breadwinner in her household, explained the financial pressure the shutdown is causing. “For most of us who live paycheck to paycheck, you’re counting on your next paycheck to continue to keep the lights on,” she told AFP. “And that’s what I do.”‘Bridging the gap’The uncertainty caused by the shutdown has led some federal workers to turn to credit unions offering paycheck protection programmes.The Navy Federal Credit Union, which provided around 19,000 loans totalling more than $50 million during the 2018-2019 shutdown, has already begun seeing applications this time, according to a spokesperson.These loans help federal workers get through a few weeks without pay and ‘bridge the gap’ until the shutdown ends and back pay is received, Haleigh Laverty, a spokesperson for the Defense Credit Union Council, told AFP.Many credit unions are offering short-term, interest-free loans of a few thousand dollars for periods ranging from 90 days to six months. This support helps protect both employees and their credit scores.Among them is the Cobalt Credit Union in Nebraska, which serves around 120,000 members connected to Offutt Air Force Base, home to the US Strategic Command.“We still have active duty and a lot of essential positions on the base that have to report due to missions all over the world,” Cobalt Credit Union president and CEO Robin Larson said. The union has helped thousands through past shutdowns and has already received multiple loan applications since October 1.Struggle with mortgage While federal workers are hardest hit, the shutdown could also affect the private sector. Mortgage brokers warn that lending may slow down, and crucial services like flood insurance could be disrupted in coastal areas, forcing borrowers to turn to costlier private options.Alex St Pierre, a mortgage broker in Charleston, South Carolina, explained that government workers looking for a mortgage face additional pressures, including the threat of dismissal and delays to identity verification checks while their departments are closed.
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