Shutdown woes increase

Contractor anxiety rising; SBA currently “inactive”

      As the government’s partial shutdown continues into the 11th day, many small business contractors and their employees are feeling the stress of a likely loss in income and of not knowing when the next paycheck is coming.

      Contractors also are missing access to Small Business Administration programs, loans and advice. “Due to the lapse of government funding, SBA will remain inactive until further notice,” the agency posted on its Facebook page on Dec. 22.

      As of press time, additional federal agencies that remained closed or partially closed included Agriculture, Commerce, EPA, Homeland Security, HUD, Interior, Justice, NASA, State, Transportation, Treasury and USAID.

      At press time, Democratic leaders in the House were preparing to be sworn in on Jan. 3 and to immediately submit legislation to reopen the government, but without the $5 billion in border wall funding demanded by President Trump.

      Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of federal and contract employees are not working or working without pay. Many contract workers--especially those earning hourly pay, including IT specialists, janitors and cafeteria employees--are off duty and not getting paid. If history is a guide, they are not likely to be paid for the shutdown time.

      Some contractors are venting their frustrations on Twitter:

• ”I'm a contracted employee for the federal government and the difference is that there is no chance of compensation for the shutdown days for me and others in my position.”
  46 replies 432 retweets 929 likes
• ”There are so many Government Contractors that are not getting paid and unlike Federal employees we do not get retro pay when the shutdown is over... That income is just gone forever.” 29 replies 389 retweets 778 likes
  
• ”Even when employees get paid later, it won’t cover the late fees, overdraft fees and shutoff/turn on fees that they incurred because of missing wages.” 86 replies 1,473 retweets 3,827 likes
  

Shutdown woes increase

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