WASHINGTON– The furloughs forced by the federal government shutdown have extended to native Arkansans who live and work in the nation’s capital — and at least one woman who hopes to move to Washington.
An Arkansan about to start a job as a proctor with the U.S. Senate Page Program has seen her shift to Washington halted indefinitely.
“I was supposed to move to Washington on Saturday and start work on the 7th, but I got a phone call Tuesday saying I was going to be unable to begin my new job as long as the government was shut down,” said Samantha Williams, who had been working as outreach and events coordinator with Gov. Mike Beebe’s office.
In Washington, the Department of Homeland Security has furloughed 14 percent of its employees.
One of them, an Arkansas native, said, “Right now it does feel like a snowstorm, but if this stretches out any longer than a week, it’s going to stop being funny.”
“We all have to work with people we don’t like, so I wish our lawmakers could start conducting themselves in a responsible manner,” said the young man who asked not to be identified.
The Delta Regional Authority, a federal agency committed to economic improvement in the Delta states, has been able to keep its Little Rock and Washington offices open. It’s operating with a minimal, rotating crew.
“We’ve had to furlough both Arkansans working in our Washington offices. With our rotating crew they’ll [the two employees] have a few hours on the clock, however only about four to eight hours this week. Compared to a 40-hour work week that is certainly not a lot,” said Chris Masingill, federal co-chairman of the DRA.
“It is very hard to keep our constituents happy and to carry a full load with such a limited staff,” Massingill said.
While inconvenienced, these Arkansans are remaining level headed about the ordeal.
“Utilizing prior year funding, we can probably keep our office lights on until about the first week of November, if needed,” Massingill said.
Not everyone is lucky enough to be getting any paycheck during furloughs.
“There is a widespread assumption that all federal employees will be back paid. But that is not guaranteed to every single one of us, and that includes myself,” the DHS worker said.
Samantha Williams said she was fortunate to be able to keep her job with the governor’s office until everything blows over. However, “it’s frustrating because I was ready to get out there and at the last minute I’m being told I have to stay here,” she said.
For Williams, while she is still able to work, it means putting her new life on hold.
“I consider it a lucky break I’ve been able to keep my job with the governor’s office, but I literally just have to sit here and wait until I get a phone call saying the government is up and running again,” she said.