NASA Ames in Mountain View welcomes back furloughed workers for first full work week

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ByMatt Keller KGO logo
Monday, January 28, 2019
NASA Ames in Mountain View welcomes back furloughed workers
It's the beginning of the first full workweek for more than 800,000 federal employees who were furloughed for 35 days over a political dispute over a border

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (KGO) -- It's the beginning of the first full workweek for more than 800,000 federal employees who were furloughed for 35 days over a political dispute over a border wall.

Forty-three janitorial workers and others were hit hard at NASA Ames in Mountain View. Their last paycheck was on December 22.

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An electronic sign at the entrance gate says "Welcome Back Ames Family."

Sign welcoming back furloughed workers at NASA Ames in Mountain View, California on Monday, January 28, 2019.
Sign welcoming back furloughed workers at NASA Ames in Mountain View, California on Monday, January 28, 2019.
KGO-TV

The Treasury Department is not expected to clear its payroll backlog until next week. Many workers missed at least two paychecks during the shutdown.

Families, including the janitorial workers from NASA Ames, lined up at food pantries. Some federal workers filed for unemployment. Many are still concerned about backlogs, back pay and a threat to shut down the government again.

With tax filing season starting on Monday, a government watchdog group overseeing the IRS is also warning about a major backlog at the agency.

If you have been personally affected by the government shutdown, you can share your story with us here.

Read more about the government shutdown.