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Credit: Orlando International Airport\/Facebook<\/p>\nCredit: Orlando International Airport\/Facebook<\/p>\n
As the federal government shutdown enters its third week, the agency overseeing the Orlando International Airport has organized a food and gift card donation drive for the federal customs agents, air traffic controllers, and Transportation Security Administration officers affected.<\/p>\n
Most of the federal government employees who have not already been furloughed due to the shutdown as of earlier this month are forced to continue showing up to work without a guarantee of pay.\u00a0 A final partial paycheck went out to affected employees Oct. 10, covering work through Sept. 30.<\/p>\n
Federal workers who are deemed essential for government operations, including TSA officers at MCO, are approaching their first full pay period without a paycheck, one union leader told Orlando Weekly, as long as the government shutdown continues.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last pay received by officers was what many called a \u201chalf-check,\u201d and depending on deductions, some received little or no pay at all,\u201d said Candise Isla, executive vice president of the union representing TSA\u00a0 workers, the American Federation of Government Employees Local556. \u201cYet, despite that, TSA officers continue to report to duty, upholding their sworn oath to protect the traveling public,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
To support affected employees \u2014 and their families \u2014 the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is accepting non-perishable food items and $10 gift cards for stores like Publix, Target, and Walmart for workers through 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. <\/p>\n
Isla, whose union represents hundreds of TSA officers across 11 Florida airports, said officers are already facing \u201cdifficult choices\u201d about paying bills, buying groceries, or putting gas in their cars to get to work. Unfortunately, she added, TSA policy forbids the officers from accepting gifts directly from passengers themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cMorale is strained, but our members continue to serve out of a deep sense of duty to the mission and to the flying public,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The federal government shutdown officially began Oct. 1 due to the failure of Republicans and Democrats in Congress to resolve disagreements concerning the federal budget. The primary issue at stake is funding for healthcare and the upcoming expiration of enhanced tax credits<\/a> that, since 2021, have helped make health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace more affordable for millions of Americans. Those tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year, unless Congress extends them.\u00a0<\/p>\n Democrats are pushing in favor of their extension, while Republicans haven\u2019t committed to doing so. Floridians affected could include approximately 4.7 million small business owners, independent contractors, and others who don\u2019t receive health insurance through their employer. <\/p>\n \u201cIn my Congressional district alone, 189,000 [people] will see their health care premiums go up anywhere from 50 to 300 percent,\u201d Orlando-area U.S. Congressman Maxwell Frost told a delegation of state lawmakers Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cA little bit more than double, is what people are receiving in the mail right now \u2014 not in a year right now \u2014 telling them that their health care is going to go up come January,\u201d Frost, a Democrat, continued. \u201cThis impacts everybody: Democrats, Republicans, independents. And my ask is that folks here encourage members of Congress to encourage our leadership to send us back to work so we can reopen the government.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Stories<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\u201cAt the end of this year, if Congress doesn\u2019t do its job, we are going to see 25 million Americans have their healthcare costs go up anywhere from 50 to 300 percent,\u201d the Democratic congressman said\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson earlier this month sent U.S. House representatives like Frost home. He argued the ball on which the shutdown\u2019s longevity depends on \u2014 legislation approved by his conference \u2014 was in Senate Democrats\u2019 court, not theirs.\u00a0 <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re on a 48-hour notice to return everybody to do work as soon as they\u2019ll turn the lights on or do something meaningful like that,\u201d Johnson told reporters<\/a> Monday.<\/p>\n Most of the 2.1 million employees who work for the federal government work outside of Washington D.C., spread out across the country. Tens of thousands of workers \u2014 employed by the Departments of Veteran Affairs, Transportation, and Homeland Security, for instance \u2014 are based in Central Florida alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n Under federal law, federal employees who are furloughed or required to work without pay during a government shutdown are guaranteed back pay once the government reopens. However, the White House and Trump administration have cast doubt on that interpretation<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cOver the past nine months, the Trump administration has been determined on traumatizing the federal workers who provide vital services to the American people. The threat to not pay federal employees is cruel, anti-worker, and illegal, and it wouldn\u2019t be tolerated in any other workplace,\u201d AFGE national president Everett Kelley wrote<\/a> in a letter addressed to federal Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought earlier this month.<\/p>\n Isla, with the TSA officers\u2019 union, said passenger flow at MCO (one of the nation\u2019s busiest air hubs, due to its proximity to major tourist destinations) is expected to increase in the coming weeks as the holiday season is fast approaching. This could emotionally and financially strain the TSA workforce even more, without a paycheck to at least make the trouble worthwhile if the shutdown persists.<\/p>\n \u201cAs someone who\u2019s been through four government shutdowns, I can say the stress and hardship are cumulative,\u201d Isla said. \u201cEach one leaves a lasting impact on the workforce and their families.\u201d<\/p>\n She\u2019s been grateful, however, to see the community show up to support the federal workforce, including members of her union. She said TGI Friday\u2019s has offered a free meal to federal workers with a valid I.D. and IKEA has offered a free breakfast with valid I.D. \u201cThis community support has been a bright spot in a very difficult time, and we\u2019re deeply grateful for it.\u201d<\/p>\n Items to donate at MCO today<\/p>\n Accepted items for MCO\u2019s donation drive include items that are non-perishable, in their original packaging, and are not expired.<\/p>\n Individuals can drop off those donations at MCO\u2019s Terminal C Departures curb from 9 a.m. to 2\u00a0 p.m. or the Orlando Executive Airport.<\/p>\n Accepted items include:<\/p>\n Canned meals<\/p>\n Dry milk, evaporated milk, soy milk<\/p>\n Oatmeal and cereal<\/p>\n Canned meats, fish or poultry<\/p>\n Canned or dry beans<\/p>\n Canned vegetables<\/p>\n Canned or dry fruit<\/p>\n Canned soup<\/p>\n Pasta and macaroni<\/p>\n Spaghetti sauce<\/p>\n Peanut butter<\/p>\n Rice or other grains<\/p>\n Nutritional drinks<\/p>\n Toiletries (e.g. shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, tampons, etc)<\/p>\n Baby supplies (food, diapers, wipes, etc.)<\/p>\n Cleaning supplies (e.g. laundry detergent, dish soap, paper towels, etc.)<\/p>\n Pet Supplies (wet\/dry food, treats, litter)<\/p>\n Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us:\u00a0Apple News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0Bluesky<\/a>\u00a0| Or sign up for our\u00a0RSS Feed<\/a><\/p>\n Related Stories<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\tAn official statement from the airport states that contingency plans are in place should there be a \u201cdramatic decrease\u201d in TSA officers showing up to work\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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