U.S. Rep. Don Beyer on Friday released a webpage with resources for federal workers and contractors affected by the partial government shutdown that began this week.
Beyer represents Virginia’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Alexandria and has one of the highest concentrations of federal employees and contractors in the nation. More than 72,000 of his constituents work directly for the federal government, with thousands more employed as government contractors.
Parts of the federal government remain closed following the failure of negotiations over a funding deal. Beyer blamed President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans for the impasse, saying they failed to prevent a shutdown while negotiating over health care policy.
“Government shutdowns are deeply harmful to our country, and the dedicated public servants who work on behalf of the American people are often the ones who suffer most,” Beyer said in a statement. “This shutdown piles onto the devastating damage already inflicted by the Trump administration, which has shuttered entire agencies, carried out illegal reductions in force, and deliberately fostered a toxic environment across the federal government.”
The congressman urged Trump and Republican colleagues to negotiate a swift resolution to reopen the government and protect Americans from what he called “skyrocketing health care cost increases.”
“It’s my hope that the resources provided on my website will be helpful for the federal workers and contractors I represent as they navigate this challenging time,” Beyer said.
Beyer also announced on Friday that his ninth annual Women’s Conference, originally scheduled for Monday, has been postponed due to the shutdown. Updated details, including a new date, will be shared once confirmed.
