Partial government shutdown hits home for Evanston family

Sheila McGuire, Herald Reporter
Posted 1/15/19

Local family in distress over shutdown

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Partial government shutdown hits home for Evanston family

Posted

EVANSTON — As the partial shutdown of the federal government drags on at 25 days and counting, the national news is full of stories about how federal employees are handling it, the toll the shutdown is taking on national parks and government agencies and the seemingly endless battles between political factions in Washington, D.C. In spite of the constant news, however, for most Evanston residents the shutdown has no immediate impact and it remains something far removed from daily life.

For at least one Evanston family, however, the shutdown is having a huge immediate impact on every facet of their daily lives. Steve and Amanda Manchester are learning firsthand exactly what it means for American families when the government shuts down. 

The Manchesters have called Evanston home for more than a decade. The two are both Wyoming natives who met while serving in the Air Force. Both served for six years and were honorably discharged following combat deployments in Iraq. They have two young children — Henry, 8, and Samuel, 4. 

Amanda works part-time in the morning and spends afternoons caring for Samuel, who is too young to attend school all day. Steve is employed with the Federal Aviation Administration based in Evanston. Amanda said his work entails repairing and maintaining aviation electronics, including air traffic radars, radios, navigational aids, landing equipment and electrical items at the Evanston airport as well as in Rock Springs. 

Steve and his three coworkers, who are also military veterans, are all currently working without pay because of their status as essential employees, as are all FAA employees throughout the country. Steve hasn’t been paid since late December but is still going to work for 10 hours a day, four days a week, and he is not allowed to take time off because of federal FAA regulations. 

Amanda said they are not able to pay their mortgage in January, something that is incredibly distressing for them.

“We have lived in our home for nearly 10 years now and have never missed a payment or had a late payment — ever,” she said. “Our mortgage company has set up loan forgiveness programs through the month of January, but starting in February there will be long-term consequences.” 

Amanda said just as distressing as the financial concerns are the comments she’s heard from people. People have suggested they hold a yard sale or sell their possessions to get by or that the two of them pick up second jobs. She finds these suggestions both impractical and insulting. “We’re incredibly responsible,” she said, “and the message that we’re receiving from the government, that we’ve both served honorably, and my husband continues to do so, is that our family doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter that we’ve done everything right and by the book and with integrity. The messages we’re receiving are, ‘Figure it out, but I don’t want to hear about it!’” 

She continued, “Without sounding like a pity party, I just want people to realize how disheartening and helpless this feels, to have your paycheck — that you’re still actively working for — held hostage for something that has very little or nothing to do with us.” 

As distressing as the situation is for the Manchesters, Steve will eventually receive back pay when the government does reopen. Many other federal employees, however, will not. Employees that are deemed essential are working without pay, while others are furloughed and are simply unable to go to work each day. Amanda said those people are going to come up short on their annual income no matter what happens.

“People face the possibility of ruining their credit or losing their homes,” she said.

She pointed out that many, if not most, federal government employees are veterans like themselves.

“Is this how you thank the people that have served this country?” she asked. “If people don’t stand with federal employees and veterans now, I question whether they ever really have.” 

As for suggestions about people getting second jobs or quitting to look for new jobs, Amanda is incredulous. She said there is no way the job market could handle such a huge influx of job seekers. 

Further, she said that would be detrimental to the government and end up increasing federal spending. She said many federal positions require years of training and experience and there is no way the government would be able to refill those positions if people start quitting, especially positions with the FAA, such as Steve’s. 

“It takes years to acquire a fully trained and certified air traffic controller. I know they’re not currently being paid, and air traffic is frequently considered one of the world’s most stressful jobs. And these good folks at the FAA are still going to work, day in and day out, without pay, hoping that this shutdown ends soon before they’re all forced to walk so their families can subsist.” 

When asked about where she places blame for the shutdown, Amanda said she feels that falls squarely on President Trump.

“He’s taken full accountability for it,” she said, “and even seems proud to take credit for the fiasco.”

She said she doesn’t support the wall Trump is demanding funding for and she doesn’t believe such a project is an example of the American values they fought for.

“Remember that my husband and I were both sent on a wild goose chase in Iraq for weapons of mass destruction that didn’t exist, so I don’t think there is any state of emergency for our country at the Mexican border either,” she said. “I didn’t sign up to serve the country to keep people out of it. People come here every day because where they’re from is so terrible, and we take that for granted as Americans. Do I wish people would come here legally? Absolutely. Apply that $5.7 billion toward helping people access the legal process of becoming American.” 

In spite of personal feelings about the wall and the budget impasse, Amanda said Steve would be OK with a Congressional compromise to get the government opened again. This situation has taken a toll on Steve personally, she said.

“He’s a hard-working husband and father and I know he feels personally responsible for the situation our family is in now,” she said. “I’m sure he doesn’t care about the outcome but only to provide for his family again.” 

Steve’s mother, Linda Manchester, shared her disgust with what’s going on in the nation’s capital and how it’s impacting her son’s family.

“In the beginning of all this, on Dec. 19, a bill was voted on in the Senate to keep the government open,” she said. “Every senator, Republican and Democrat, voted yes. … Trump refused to sign and now here we are. My son’s family and many others are paying the price.” 

Personal politics notwithstanding, Amanda said the entire situation is painful and immoral.

“The fact that so many people are game to sacrifice 800,000 other people’s income is grossly disappointing. I’ll never get behind that,” she said. “Regardless of how you feel about the border wall, it’s not OK to use others’ livelihoods as a political leveraging tool.”