Federal workers on Space Coast face uncertainty amid shutdown

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Federal workers on the Space Coast are eager for guidance as the government shutdown enters its first day.

Kevin Smith is the president of Transport Workers Union 525, representing workers and firefighters at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

He also represents special teams who are on the ready to rescue astronauts if there’s an emergency during Artemis launches.

Throughout his tenure, Smith has weathered several government shutdowns.

“We have yet to hear any negativity out of the Space Force, so we are cautiously optimistic that by the end of the day we will continue to have our workforce in place to continue to do the things that they do and support the missions out there,” Smith said.

He said furloughs could be a possibility, but his people just want to work.

“It ends up being sort of a paid vacation, which we don’t want to be paid for nothing. We want to be out, performing services,” Smith said.

The gate is locked at the entrance to the Canaveral National Seashore. As is the gate at the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center.

Beth Ann Bishop and friend Mary Herring were hoping for a Playalinda beach day.

They wanted to check the turtle nests after many of them washed away in recent storms.

“Definitely disappointed, and worried about the government,” Bishop said. “It’s silly. There’s no reason for this. They need to come together. There’s a lot more than the beach being closed that’s being affected by it.”

The Interior Department says parts of national parks will remain open during the shutdown, but more than 60% of all the federal workers will be furloughed.

Even if furloughs happen, major operations like the International Space Station and NASA’s next Mars probe mission will still go on.

And just as back in 2018-19 for the government shutdown, a small contingent of employees will stay on to protect life and property.