UPDATE: Federal workers in Minnesota are pleading for immediate action as the government shutdown reaches a critical 30 days. Union leaders testified before senators on October 30, 2023, revealing harrowing stories of federal employees struggling to afford rent and relying on food donations.
The sobering accounts were shared during a meeting of the Senate’s Subcommittee on Federal Impacts. Mark Johnson, representing TSA agents with the American Federation of Government Employees, disclosed that nearly 1,000 of Minnesota’s 18,000 federal employees are TSA agents. “I’ve got officers who say my rent is due on November 1. I don’t have the funds for that,” Johnson reported, highlighting the dire financial situation many are facing.
Neal Gosman, a TSA agent at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, echoed these sentiments, stating that employees took home food boxes after their shifts this week. “It’s time for our leaders to start focusing on how to solve problems for the American people,” Johnson urged, calling for bipartisan cooperation to resolve the crisis.
Concerns extend beyond TSA workers. Officials from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture also testified about critical federal services at risk due to the shutdown. Dr. Nicole Neeser, director of the Dairy and Meat Inspection Division, warned that essential inspections could be hindered, jeopardizing public health and safety.
Dr. Brian Hoefs, who oversees animal health, expressed alarm at the lack of communication with the USDA, stating, “The USDA contingency plan for the federal shutdown has also been removed from the website. We don’t know why.” He emphasized that without proper funding and communication, critical animal disease responses could be compromised.
Additionally, Alex Fitzsimmons from the Children’s Defense Fund raised alarms about the federal nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Minnesota receives around $9 million monthly for WIC, with funds expected to run out by the third week of November. “Losing access to WIC would result in increased hunger and poorer health outcomes,” she cautioned.
Attorney General Keith Ellison testified regarding his lawsuit against the USDA, arguing that the halt in SNAP benefits during the shutdown is illegal. He highlighted that nearly 500,000 Minnesotans could be left without food assistance if the situation persists. “It’s intolerable that we face this crisis when the law provides for funding,” Ellison asserted, urging immediate judicial intervention.
As the situation continues to escalate, state lawmakers are scrambling for solutions. Senator Erin Maye Quade expressed the urgent need for legislative fixes to mitigate the impact of lost federal funds. “This is not something that a state should be having to figure out,” she stated, urging federal officials to prioritize the needs of their constituents.
The clock is ticking as the federal shutdown lingers, with the potential to set a new record at 35 days. As Minnesota’s federal workers face mounting challenges, the call for decisive action has never been more critical. What happens next could determine the livelihoods of thousands across the state.
Stay tuned for ongoing updates on this developing situation as officials work to find a resolution to this unprecedented crisis.
