Well, now we are seeing what Trump supporters in high government positions think of the workers. One is saying that the workers are going to be better off after the shutdown, because they got a paid vacation and will have a month's worth of pay saved up.
Trump's top economic adviser says furloughed federal workers might be 'better off' due to free 'vacation days'
Another is asking why are furloughed government workers going to soup kitchens and food pantries to get fed, when they could easily go get a loan.
Wilbur Ross says unpaid federal workers shouldn't need food banks, they can just get a loan
I guess those people don't understand that government workers at the GS-5 pay level or lower (which is a large percentage of them), don't make enough to have lots of money saved up. People at that level are generally living paycheck to paycheck. They aren't raking in a whole bunch of cash.
How much longer is this heartless action by the current admin going to go on?
Someone living paycheck to paycheck is somehow our problem? The national banks are all offering forebarence on mortgages and will give payday loans knowing the workers will get paid. This is not a problem.
Also, this is not Trump's fault. Democrats refuse to counter offer hoping Trump will have a No new taxes moment. He is standing fast. 52% nationally want the wall included in any deal. 80% of republicans.
Those government workers are living paycheck to paycheck because they don't get much money.
Know how much a GS-1 step 1 makes? Around 18,500 per year.
Know how much a GS-5 step 8 makes? Around 36,600 per year.
At 18,500/year, you are only bringing home around 1,500 per month.
At 36,600/year, you are looking at around 3,000 per month.
General Schedule (GS) Base Pay Scale for 2019
Considering that most people who are renting a house generally are paying around 950 to 1,500 per month in Amarillo, plus gas money to get back and forth to work, groceries, general expenses, no, it's not too hard to see how many of them live paycheck to paycheck.
Lots of government workers are GS-5 and below.