The Democratic governors of Michigan, New York and Washington on Friday asked the Trump administration to let states offer unemployment benefits to federal employees who are working without pay during the partial government shutdown that began nearly a month ago.
Govs. Gretchen Whitmer, Andrew Cuomo and Jay Inslee said in a joint statement that their states are providing the benefits to furloughed workers. But federal regulations prevent those who are on the job without pay from eligibility.
The governors called on the U.S. Labor Department to immediately provide “clear, unambiguous” guidance on whether states have flexibility to waive the rules to help those working without pay — Transportation Security Administration officers, air traffic controllers, Coast Guard members and others. If the flexibility does not exist, they said, the department should work with congressional leaders to change the law.
“Simply put, there is no rational justification to deny these employees the same short-term relief being offered to furloughed federal employees across the country,” the governors said. They said they are “profoundly distressed” by the 28-day shutdown, which is “badly hurting” federal employees in their states and across the country.
