Rep. Panetta Hosts Listening Session with Federal Employees on Impacts of the Shutdown

San Jose, CA - United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) convened a local roundtable discussion with federal employees to hear firsthand how the ongoing government shutdown, and the actions of the Administration, are affecting their work and the public's access to government services in California's 19th Congressional District and beyond.

During the listening session, federal employees outlined the damaging effects of the government shutdown and threats of mass layoffs. They detailed how services to the public are impacted by the shutdown and how the Administration's actions are impacting the federal workforce, public safety and national security.

"Thousands of federal workers in California's 19th District are either furloughed or working without receiving a paycheck, uncertain about their futures because Congressional leadership is failing to negotiate and govern responsibly," said Rep. Panetta. "I will continue to fight to reopen our government, protect the livelihoods of our public servants, and ensure working families can keep their healthcare. The American people deserve a government that gets past political brinksmanship and does its job."

"As this drags on its going to hurt more and more of our community," said Cesar Lara, the Director of Workforce and Economic Development for the California Federation of Labor Unions. "We need to be strong and be clear that A, we need to get the doors open back in the federal government and B, respect the workers and make sure they at least get paid their due for an honest day's work."

Rep. Panetta has taken numerous actions to end the brinkmanship that leads to shutdowns while fighting the Administration's attacks on the federal workforce, including:

• Introducing the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2023, legislation that would prevent government shutdowns going forward.
• Cosponsoring the Pay our Troops Act of 2025, to ensure that members of the military continue to be paid in the event of a government shutdown.
• Cosponsoring the Securing Assurance for Federal Employees (SAFE) Act, to prohibit mass layoffs during a government shutdown.
• Cosponsoring the Protect America's Workforce Act, which restores the ability of federal employee unions to collectively bargain.

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