As the government shutdown enters into its 24th day, partisan bickering over who’s to blame is reaching a fever pitch. But it’s safe to say that President Trump’s most vocal loyalists are losing that battle, allowing themselves to be seen as uncaring about the financial strains the shutdown has cast upon federal workers.
Trump loyalist and Turning Point USA’s communications director Candace Owens makes a good living for herself as a political commentator and it’s safe to say that she doesn’t receive a single government paycheck, but according to a remarkably tone-deaf tweet she fired off last week, it seems as though she thinks no one else does either.
“It’s Week 3 of our government shutdown and literally not a single element of our day to day lives has been affected,” Owens tweeted on January 9. “Really makes you wonder what the hell exactly our government does when it’s open.”
It’s Week 3 of our government shutdown and literally not a single element of our day to day lives has been affected.
Really makes you wonder what the hell exactly our government does when it’s open. #BuildTheWall #ShrinkGovernment
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) January 9, 2019
As it stands, many federal employees are working without pay and many of them missed their first paycheck this past Friday. As the Washington Post points out, about 800,000 employees in the nine Cabinet departments and various smaller agencies whose funding has lapsed are either working without pay or have been furloughed.
Another report from the Post highlighted how the shutdown is affecting the retirement plans for some federal workers.
They’re stuck waiting for their retirement packages to be fully processed because the employees who handle that paperwork are furloughed. As a result, some employees who retired during the shutdown are having difficulty tapping into their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the government’s version of a 401(k).
Owens’ tweet sparked a thread of commenters who were simply baffled as to what the fuck she was talking about.
The impact is not being felt because most of the Feds are showing up at work every day. If all the defunded agencies genuinely shut down the impact would be immediate and devastating.
— Gregory Dale Boyd (@boydgregory) January 12, 2019
This shows Candace (1) Does not rely on IRS refunds, (2) Isn't employed by a federal agency, (3) Sees nothing wrong with trashing national parks, (4) Doesn't care that food isn't inspected, and (5) Does not need food stamps or housing subsidies.
We get it. You're well off.
— BacksTweetsBackAlright (@BacksTweets) January 9, 2019
My dad works as a CBP officer and has worked for no pay these last 3 weeks. Too many federal employees keep working without pay to make things continue to work . Wow what a messed up take
— Coolnerd 🇵🇸🇺🇦 (@coolnerd86) January 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/russbengtson/status/1084864842626940928
Tell that to all the employees who aren’t getting paid. Like TSA and air traffic controllers.
— C. Michael Woodward (@MorphingMichael) January 10, 2019
You should really make more friends. I have some that are terrified for their families. I question the validity of your observationalism.
— Richie Ryan ⚫️ (@Richie__Ryan) January 11, 2019
Featured image via screen grab/The Rubin Report
