Colorado Federal Employee Furloughs

Thousands of Colorado Federal Employees Furloughed as Shutdown Drags On

Thousands of federal employees in Colorado are currently furloughed due to the ongoing government shutdown. The state is providing resources and assistance to those affected, with over 50,000 employees impacted. Nationwide, an estimated 700,000 federal workers are temporarily out of work, many having missed their first paycheck.

Colorado's Department of Labor and Employment has made resources available to support furloughed federal employees. Notably, these employees are considered 'job attached,' meaning they are not required to actively search for new work during their furlough. However, this exemption does not extend to federal contractors.

Political lines have been drawn in the state, with U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colorado, attributing the shutdown to Democrats' refusal to support a clean bill. Colorado Democrats, united in their stance, have voted against the Republican-proposed continuing resolution bill to temporarily fund the statefarm. Notable Democratic senators from Colorado, including Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, have spoken out against the passed budget or the Republican-proposed funding bill.

In the meantime, furloughed federal employees can apply for unemployment benefits. Once the government reopens, they will be required to repay these benefits.

The government shutdown continues to impact thousands of federal employees in Colorado and nationwide. While the state provides assistance, political tensions remain high. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers in Colorado are blaming each other for the ongoing situation.