Greg Schildmeyer
Jefferson City
Dear Editor,
It’s time to release the hostages.
After working 32 years for two different federal agencies, followed by nearly 10 years as a federal contractor, I have experienced every government shutdown prior to the current one. I know firsthand what a devastating hardship that being sent home (or required to come to work) for an indefinite period of time without pay is for employees, their families, their communities and the American public that depends on government services. A shutdown brings huge costs to federal employees and contractors, the public, and the American economy, which far outweigh any perceived benefit that one party may feel they have achieved. A government shutdown can only be seen as a failure of duty.
President Trump candidly said that he would accept the blame for shutting down the government over a “wall,” and that he would not blame the Democrats. He then proceeded to intentionally shut down a large part of the government — by refusing to sign appropriation bills for nine departments that had been passed by Congress on a bi-partisan basis, after indicating that he would sign them. Eight of these departments have absolutely nothing to do with immigration and the southern border, but Trump has decided nonetheless to take these employees hostage and make them needlessly suffer. Then, despite his promise, he has blamed the Democrats for his action, and has even tried to blame the victims — the federal workers and contractors — by attempting to call his lockout “a strike.”
Despite what many right-wingers claim, Democrats accept that Trump is president, and agree that appropriate border security needs to be part of a reasonable immigration policy. But please keep things in proper perspective. Despite Trump’s rhetoric, there is no “crisis” on our southern border. There is no “invasion.” There is no threat from the caravans of poor, tired, frightened asylum-seekers who have come to ports of entry to begin the legal asylum process. This shutdown is purely a needless political stunt. Once again, the great “deal-maker” has failed pathetically by closing government agencies.
It’s time for the Senate to correct Trump’s failure by passing the funding bills already passed by the House, so eight departments and agencies can return to work. Congress should then pass a continuing resolution to re-open Department of Homeland Security, while Congress conducts a reasonable discussion about real solutions to authentic immigration/security issues.