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Financial stress for Wisconsin federal workers
The shutdown stalemate in Washington, D.C. has hit two weeks with no end in sight. What does that mean for you?
MILWAUKEE - The shutdown stalemate in Washington, D.C. has hit two weeks with no end in sight. What does that mean for you?
Federal money touches so much of daily life. It starts with your paycheck, and then goes back to your roads, schools and houses.
Shutdown's impact on Housing Authority of Milwaukee
What we know:
The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) serves 10,000 households. An agency spokesperson says the agency's federal funding is already there and runs through the end of November. That means there is no immediate impact on recipients.
For now, a HACM spokesperson said the agency cannot get in touch with their federal partners if they have questions.
Other programs impacted
What we know:
FoodShare, Wisconsin's version of the federal food stamps program, helps roughly 700,000 Wisconsinites.
Ninety-thousand in the state get help through another federal program called WIC – Women, Infants and Children.
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says both are fully funded through October, so there are no worries about using your Quest card this month.
However, the federal government warned states in a letter. It reads: "There will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits." SNAP refers to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called "food stamps."
President Trump's administration said it will fund WIC through tariffs, but questions still linger.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction says most federal funds for schools were handed out this summer.
Medicare and Social Security benefits are still going out the door, and FEMA is still assisting Wisconsin flood victims.
Shutdown's impact on federal workers in Wisconsin
What they're saying:
Mary Oppliger is one of nearly 18,000 federal civilian workers in Wisconsin and is in local leadership with the American Federation of Government Employees. She is furloughed, meaning she cannot work.
"A lot of uncertainty. We are still waiting to find out what's going to happen. How long is this going to be? And no one knows, but it's a lot of uncertainty for everyone in our group," Oppliger said.
Mary Oppliger
Others, like TSA officers, are on duty. But neither those furloughed, nor those working, are getting paid.
"Last night, I didn’t get much sleep. I was up till about 3 o’clock in the morning. Sleep is the first thing that goes when I start worrying about things," Oppliger said.
Unions to provide help
Dig deeper:
FOX6 News has learned the Milwaukee Area Labor Council will step in to help. It is an umbrella organization for local private and public sector unions. They will start a food drive for federal workers.
"Can any of us imagine missing a paycheck? I mean, it's hard, right? You're going to be dipping into your savings," said Pam Fendt, Milwaukee Area Labor Council. "It's a very stressful time for people. If we can give a little comfort and a little bit of assistance that helps take an evening meal off of their to-do list, we'd love to help our fellow union members that way."
Federal law from 2019 says federal workers, both furloughed and those working, will get backpay.
Pam Fendt
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