The federal government has been shut down nearly a month, and furloughed workers in Alabama are talking about how they are struggling financially since the paychecks stopped coming after Dec. 21.
In Alabama, there are 5,500 employees at federal agencies without funding and subject to the shutdown. About half work for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, with 95 percent of employees at that agency having been furloughed. Here are a few of their stories:
NASA human resources officer Kerri Davis talks about her furlough at a meeting of furloughed workers in Huntsville, Ala., on Jan. 17, 2019.
Kerri Davis, NASA human resources, Huntsville.
“I had to call the finance company for my car and have that payment put at the end of my term, because I couldn’t make the payment this month.
“Insurance is my No. 1 concern right now, because I have a disabled child. Medication, prescriptions, things like that that are necessary, now it’s like I’m really getting nervous about co-pays, doctor’s appointments, things like that. That stuff is still going on and we have no end in sight at this point.
“Once upon a time, a $14 co-pay for a prescription was not a big deal. But when I had to pick up my son’s prescription last week, I actually had to pause and think about that. Fourteen dollars, OK, do I have it? And if I have it, do I have to get it right now? Maybe I should wait. Those questions were never an issue before. It was just, ‘OK here you go.’ Get the prescription.
“If it goes on another four weeks, I’m really going to be concerned about my rent. I was able to make a payment with that last check. But come February, I’ve got to have a whole other conversation, if this is still going on. That’s the one thing that’s looming that I haven’t addressed.”
Furloughed NASA engineer Jared Leggett talks about the government shutdown Jan. 17, 2019 in Huntsville, Ala.
Jared Leggett, NASA engineer, Huntsville
“I’ve been trying to do the best I can. You know, cleaned the house a few times. Take care of some chores. Do some budgeting. Trying to be as prepared as I can, but when you start missing paychecks, there’s a not a heck of a lot you can do.
“Personally, I’m fine. I’ve got plenty in savings still. I’m single. I don’t have that many mandatory expenses. But bills don’t stop when the paychecks stop. You’ve got to start biting into savings. I’ve already done that a little bit.
“But I’m starting to go a little stir crazy. I really enjoy my work. I feel like I’m really doing something for other people. I work at NASA. I work on the Space Launch System (rocket) program. I’m a technical engineer. Basically, I make a computer do math every day. That’s my job.
“I love my job. I get a lot of meaning from my job. It helps me do a lot of good, and it helps me pay my bills. I would like to be able to get back and do my job. Please.”
Caroline Kennedy, mother of two and wife of a furloughed NASA engineer, is shown with her daughter.
Caroline Kennedy, wife of NASA engineer, Huntsville
“It’s not good. I lost my job in November. We have two small children and they are in full-time daycare. Then the holidays came, and we were struggling for me to find work, and then he was furloughed. Now, neither of us are working.
“We’re trying to keep two kids in daycare … If we can’t pay or we take them out, they lose their spot. We have to keep paying that. There’s a number of things like that.”
“We contribute to our local economy by going out to eat and things like that as a family and taking our kids to do stuff. We’ve completely stopped participating in the local economy. We just can’t.
“We’re cutting out anything that’s non-essential. We’re not eating healthily like we normally like to do with laots of meats and home-cooked meals and stuff. We’re literally trying to eat canned soup and things that are inexpensive.”
Logan Kennedy, NASA engineer
“I was here in 2013 in the last shutdown and it feels a lot different than that one. It just seems more uncertain. Since Congress and our government in general have just a lot more variables, a lot more unknowns. It’s kind of frustrating … feels like it could go on a lot longer.
“We’re definitely fortunate that we have some savings and a lot of people in the country don’t. (But) she lost her job in November, and we’re a zero-income family. The main idea is to stay at the house and don’t spend any money.
There’s only so many cheap or free house projects you can work on. I’ve been draining water tanks for my neighbors just to kill some time. It’s free so I can do it.
“I’m worried professionally because we just bought this $150,000 computer right before the shutdown. I don’t know if it’s sitting out in the rain, or what. It’s a pretty significant piece of this (lunar) lander that we’re going to be building and testing. And I don’t know where it is and don’t have any way to check on where it is. I’m the one who signed off on, yes, go buy this. I hope it’s OK.”
NASA test employee David Barnett talks about the government shutdown in Huntsville, Ala., on Jan. 17, 2019
David Barnett, Space Launch System test program
“We’re just trying to make ends meet the best we can. My wife is still working for the school system, so I don’t have to worry about benefits. That’s a bonus I can count on. Some folks may not be able to.
“I’ve just been picking up odd work here and there. A little bit of anything. I’ve done house renovation in the past. The major of my experience is in manufacturing. “I work on part of the Space Launch System program helping them build hardware to test articles they need to test for structural strength.
“If this goes on very much longer, we’re all going to be hurting. Another three weeks and I’m going to have to do a juggling act. With the bills and trying to find more things to do to bring in more money.”
Willie Preston
Willie Preston, recreation specialist at the federal prison on Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery
Preston said he had to tap into savings he built up to pay for his children’s college tuition.
Preston, who is also president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 4058 – a union that represents Department of Prisons and other federal workers – also had to defer payment to next for his daughter’s tuition to Southeastern University in Mississippi. If he’s not given a paycheck next Friday, his daughter won’t be able to register for the spring semester.
“I’m having to get deferments and defer some of the payments because of the shutdown,” he said. “I’m having to call vendors, call the bill people let them know at this time I just can’t pay because I’m not receiving pay.”
If the recreation specialist misses his next paycheck, he’ll be faced with tough choices. Preston was able to get a deferment on his car loan for the time being, but his mortgage holder won’t be as forgiving, he said.
“If I don’t get this next paycheck it’s going to be difficult to pay my mortgage,” he said, “because it will get to the point where I pay my mortgage and don’t eat or eat and don’t pay my mortgage. Either get gas to put in my car or pay my mortgage.”
Preston, who has worked at the low-security Montgomery prison since 2006, is in middle of 5-year background investigation. To pass the background check, he needs to show that he meets his financial obligations.
Preston said he is concerned about what the shutdown’s impacts on his finances will mean for his job security.
“I’m going to be subject to disciplinary [action] if I don’t pay my bills, so it’s kind of a double standard,” he said. “You’re telling me to pay my bills but you’re not giving me money to pay my bills.”
Cayce Clark, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class working in Health Services
Clark recently went to a Baldwin County food pantry with her husband Cody and their two young sons, aged 11 and three and half.
“It’s been nerve wracking for my family and other families in the Coast Guard,” said Clark, 30. “You have to think about what to prioritize with two kids, and then on top of that, you have to be ready to do your job.”
“But that’s what I signed up for and the way the Coast Guard community has come together has been incredible, from local command up to Washington DC. And places like this pantry are a life saver for so many people who are in need.”
Clark, who is originally from Texas, and her husband were asked by staff to go through their financial outgoings and any additional income they receive. Based on that, volunteers at the pantry can advise whether they might qualify for any state or federal assistance programs.
(AL.com reporters Christopher Harress and Howard Koplowitz contributed to this report)