Administration thwarts states’ efforts to help furloughed feds
- By FederalSoup Staff
- Jan 18, 2019
Eight states have been warned by the Trump Administration about the legalities of providing furloughed federal employees unemployment benefits during the shutdown, the Sacramento Bee reports.
According to the report, California and seven other states received a letter from the Department of Labor stating that federal employees who are working without pay “are not unemployed and are, therefore, not eligible for UCFE” (Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees).
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) considered the letter and threat, but encouraged furloughed feds to continue to apply for benefits while the state prepares a response to the letter, the report notes.
The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the letter, via email, was also sent to: Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Washington and Arizona.