A furloughed federal attorney says he’s been through several government shutdowns, but says this one feels more unpredictable.
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Jay Reddy has spent more than 30 years as an attorney with the U.S. Department of Labor. But even after decades of public service, he says this year has been the most unpredictable of his career.
“It has definitely been the most unpredictable year of my 32-year career at the U.S. Department of Labor,” Reddy said.
Reddy is one of thousands of federal employees currently furloughed as funding disputes continue. While he’s experienced several government shutdowns over the past three decades, he says this one feels different.
“I’ve been here for every shutdown going back that far, including when Newt Gingrich was speaker and in the shutdowns that occurred toward the end of 1995 and January 1996, and that was very unpredictable how it was gonna go,” he said. “This one feels at least as unpredictable.”
While many federal workers have opted to remain quiet during the current shutdown, Reddy is taking a different route, despite potential risks.
“I just feel like somebody needs to speak up,” he said.
When asked if he was concerned about retaliation, he said, “You never know, but I refuse to live life in fear.”
Reddy says he’s fortunate compared to many younger employees, thanks to being in his career for decades and being able to save up.
“I’ve been working long enough. I’m, you know, middle-aged, so I’m in a better position than say a lot of younger people,” Reddy said.
But even with some financial security, the uncertainty weighs heavily.
“The problem is the fear of not knowing how long it’s gonna go on. How many paychecks are we gonna miss?” Reddy said. “It’s just the idea of perpetual uncertainty that I think a lot of us are fearing.”
He emphasized the importance of self-care for those who may be struggling silently.
“Self-care, personal self-care connection in person with people who care about you on a regular basis, that’s the number one thing,” Reddy said. “Number two, take care of your body.”
He encouraged people to get exercise, eat right, and make sure to get enough sleep.
“Those things sound so pedestrian, but they actually are very important because you have to maintain your mental health on an everyday basis,” he added.
Despite hoping a deal will eventually be reached, Reddy remains realistic about what lies ahead.
“They’ll work out a deal on the health care subsidies that they’re in dispute over,” he said. “But there will always be something else.”