I am a contractor for the federal government. When it shuts down, we stop work, and don’t get paid. There are 3 major contract companies that do the IT work for my agency. None of them do what you claim. General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and SAIC. There are over 2,500 of us that simply do not get paid until work begins again after the shutdown. I’m not sure where you got your information. I have personally been through 3 complete shutdowns in my tenure with 5 different contact companies over 10+ years.

We only THIS YEAR implemented an option for critical services which do not require federal oversight to continue having support staff, but that’s only at a half capacity and not guaranteed.

Contractors don’t get paid. Most government agencies employ as many contractors as feds, if not more.

I wish this was talked about more so people would better realize the actual impact on lives. Contracted workers just get the middle finger. No retro pay whatsoever. And if it lasts long enough, no health insurance either…

That was exactly what I thought too. It sounded as though the crowd loved his rhetoric, giving me the impression they either accept it as truth, or at least makes them feel that their displeasure with progress is validated…

Disheartening. It’s the only word that fits. Fucking disheartening.

Not for federal contractors, which makes up an enormous percentage of government employment.