Shutdown hits OKC federal workers
President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats remained at loggerheads over border security funding as the sixth day of a partial government shutdown came and went Thursday, bringing longer furloughs and more unpaid work for federal workers in the Oklahoma City area.
At the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in south Oklahoma City, 1,146 employees are furloughed and another 593 are working without certainty that their Jan. 15 paycheck will arrive, according to an FAA spokesman.
“Furloughing this critical workforce during the busy holiday travel season is neither in the best interest of the nation’s economy nor the oversight of the U.S. aviation system,” said Mike Perrone, president of Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, a union representing about 200 people at the Monroney Center.
At an Internal Revenue Service office in downtown Oklahoma City, a white piece of paper on a dark door informed visitors that “all taxpayer advocate service offices across the country are closed” due to the shutdown and therefore “no employees are available to assist you at this time.”
“The government shutdown may be only six days old and affect only some agencies, but the impact is being felt in cities and states all over the country, including Oklahoma,” said Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents 222 IRS workers in the state, most of whom are furloughed.
At Will Rogers World Airport, Transportation Security Administration employees scanned bags and passengers Thursday, but will not be paid until the shutdown ends. The agency
expects to screen a record number of travelers this holiday season with no assurance its workers will be compensated in a timely manner.
“Right now, we are not seeing any impact” on airport operations, said Karen Carney, an airport spokeswoman. “TSA officers are showing up for work.”
At the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, National Park Service rangers are no longer on-site but the memorial and museum, funded by a private foundation, remain open. Memorial security guards patrolled the area Thursday.
The state’s tribal leaders were notified last week by Indian Health Service that they can continue providing health care, but they will not be reimbursed by the federal government during the shutdown. In a letter to tribal chiefs, IHS acknowledged that change “may result in insufficient funds” and health programs “may cease to operate.”
“I would like to reassure everyone that the operations of our hospitals and clinics will remain open without disruption,” said Shawn Terry, secretary of health for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. “With the hard work of our employees and the cooperation of our patients, the Department of Health is financially prepared to absorb this shutdown.”
The Choctaw Nation and Cherokee Nation said they are also in strong financial positions and do not anticipate any cuts to jobs or services during the shutdown.
“While the Cherokee Nation will weather the storm because we are prepared, many tribes across Indian Country will suffer by losing important services we believe are guaranteed by the United States’ trust obligation,” wrote Cherokee Principal Chief Bill John Baker in a letter to tribal employees. “Our hearts go out to those tribal citizens, and our prayers are with them during this difficult and uncertain time.”
Rep. Markwayne Mullin, a Cherokee Nation citizen and Westville Republican, introduced a bill last week that would have funded IHS tribal hospitals and urban clinics in the event of a shutdown. The bill was not considered by Congress.
Mullin, a staunch Trump supporter on immigration, was a guest Thursday afternoon on Fox Business, where he was asked whether the shutdown will end in January and said, “I hope so.” When a host told him that didn’t sound reassuring, Mullin said, “I don’t know how to move forward. I ... hoped that it would already be resolved by this point.”
Democrats and the White House are at odds over how much money to spend on border security and Trump’s campaign promise of a wall along the American border
with Mexico. Trump sought $5 billion this year, while Democrats approved $1.6 billion.
Since the shutdown began on Saturday, the two sides have dug in their heels, increasing the odds of a lengthy shutdown. House Republicans announced Thursday they don’t plan to vote this week, indicating the impasse will continue into next week, when a new Democratic majority takes control. The Republicanrun Senate is adjourned until Monday.