'It's just a fact of life': Making due as a furloughed federal worker in Oakland

"On Wednesday morning, the federal government shutdown became the longest stoppage in U.S. history, at 36 days. More than 600,000 federal workers were sent home on Oct. 1. Another 700,000, deemed essential workers, are working without pay, according to the New York Times. The current disruption comes on the heels of more than 182,000 layoffs and buyouts of federal workers led by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency; the Trump Administration has used the shutdown to lay off more."

"The Bay Area is home to several thousand federal workers, including 12,500 in the Oakland-Berkeley-Fremont metropolitan area. Thousands have been without even a partial paycheck since Oct. 10. CJ Rudolph is one of them - an Oakland-based employee of the Internal Revenue Service who's been out on furlough since Oct. 1. As a union rep with the National Treasury Employees Union,"

Federal government shutdown reached 36 days, furloughing more than 600,000 workers and leaving about 700,000 deemed essential working without pay. The disruption follows over 182,000 layoffs and buyouts led by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, with additional layoffs during the shutdown. The Bay Area employs several thousand federal workers, including 12,500 in the Oakland-Berkeley-Fremont metro; many have missed paychecks since Oct. 10. CJ Rudolph, an Oakland-based IRS employee and National Treasury Employees Union rep, has been furloughed since Oct. 1 and balances personal financial strain with advocating for colleagues and reduced taxpayer-assistance operations.

Read at The Oaklandside