Across the country, federal workers still stung by the memories of past government shutdowns are grimacing and bracing for another potential extended closure. Johnny J. Jones, secretary-treasurer of the TSA workers unit within the AFGE, said even a temporary loss in pay is a massive disruption for government workers who live paycheck to paycheck. LaPointe, a mother of four who is also a union leader for 30,000 Social Security workers through AFGE, said a shutdown would be “a catastrophe" personally. A Partnership for Public Service survey ranks the Social Security Administration last among agencies in the “Best Places to Work” government-wide index. “We don’t often feel like it’s worth it to be federal employees at the time of a shutdown,” LaPointe said.

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Persons: — John Hubert, Steve Reaves, Jessica LaPointe, she's, “ We’re, ”, Hubert, “, Washington gridlock, we've, Tom Vilsack, Johnny J, Jones, ” Jones, LaPointe, ” LaPointe, Reaves, — Organizations: WASHINGTON, Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Social Security, Disney, TSA, American Federation of Government Employees, Democrats, White House, USDA, Social, Republicans, Public Service Locations: Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Madison , Wisconsin, Washington, AFGE