Kilmer, Connolly Urge Biden Administration to Ensure Federal Childcare Centers Remain Open in a Republican Shutdown
Today, U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Gerry Connolly (VA-11) sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young urging the Administration to take every possible measure to ensure the continued operation of federal childcare centers in the event of a Republican shutdown.
“These dedicated [federal employees] are also parents who rely on federal childcare centers to care for their children while they perform their official duties,” wrote the Members. “A government shutdown should not create a double burden for these employees, forcing them to choose between fulfilling their professional obligations and meeting the needs of their families. The strain that this choice places on federal employees can have detrimental effects on their mental well-being, job performance, and overall morale.”
“We ask that you work with agencies to ensure the continuity of operations of federal childcare centers during a government shutdown and provide clear and timely communication to federal employees about the availability and accessibility of childcare services during a potential government shutdown,” the Members continued. “By ensuring the continued operation of federal childcare centers during government shutdowns, we can alleviate a significant burden for federal employees while the workforce weathers the challenges that come with any shutdown.”
Text of the letter is available here and below.
Dear Director Young,
We write to express our concern about the impact a potential government shutdown could have on federal childcare centers and to urge the Administration to take every possible measure to ensure the uninterrupted operation of these vital facilities during a shutdown.
As you know, during a government shutdown the work of government does not cease. Active-duty military personnel do not stop carrying out their critical national security missions, many public health and homeland security functions continue, and federal employees across the government work to support lifesaving agency activities such as federal disaster response, certain food inspections, medical care, and law enforcement services.
Hundreds of thousands of federal employees continue to support agency activities that are excepted or otherwise legally authorized to continue during a lapse in appropriations. For example, during the 2019 partial government shutdown, more than half of the 800,000 employees in the agencies whose funding had lapsed continued to work without pay. These employees are on the front lines of safeguarding national security, maintaining public health, and ensuring the smooth operation of essential government functions. Their contributions are invaluable, and their commitment to their duties during times of crisis is commendable.
These dedicated individuals are also parents who rely on federal childcare centers to care for their children while they perform their official duties. A government shutdown should not create a double burden for these employees, forcing them to choose between fulfilling their professional obligations and meeting the needs of their families. The strain that this choice places on federal employees can have detrimental effects on their mental well-being, job performance, and overall morale.
We ask that you work with agencies to ensure the continuity of operations of federal childcare centers during a government shutdown and provide clear and timely communication to federal employees about the availability and accessibility of childcare services during a potential government shutdown. By ensuring the continued operation of federal childcare centers during government shutdowns, we can alleviate a significant burden for federal employees while the workforce weathers the challenges that come with any shutdown.
Thank you for everything you do to support the well-being of federal employees and their families, and by extension, their ability to serve our constituents and the American people.
Sincerely,