Name:   MartiniMan - Subject:   Three words to end shut down talk. Date:   9/26/2025 4:13:35 PM

My wife worked for EPA back when they had a long shutdown.  They were told two things on their way home: 1) your job is safe; and 2) you will receive full pay for the time you were out and your benefits will continue.  It was essentially additional paid vacation, with the paid being delayed a bit as she did indeed get all her back pay and lost no benefits.  I endorse your approach and would add that no jobs are certain when the shut down ends.  If you don't hear from us then consider yourself unemployed.  Apparently the OMB memo has already gone out to all department heads to RIF any Federal employee who works on a program not consistent with the admin's objectives if funding ends on October 1.  

As for Democrat demands they do indeed ask that the part of the BBB that withheld Fed'l funding for illegals be rescinded at an annual cost of over $6B and mostly benefiting states that have added illegals to their programs.  The states can still do provide free healthcare to illegals but under the current law the Federal govt is no longer reimbursing them for those costs.   That is the sticking point, not the extension of subsidies that expire at the end of the year.  The WH and the GOP have rejected this demand because it provides free health care to 1.4M illegals that are not eligible for it.  Anyone who says the Democrats are threatening a shut down over subsidies to American citizens is uninformed or lying.  If Democrats drop the demand for free health care for illegals being reimbursed a shut down can be avoided.