WASHINGTON (WMAL) – The longest government shutdown in U.S. history has been over for months, but government contractors are still feeling the effects.
“Most of these contractors have gone back to work for their federal clients, but especially smaller contractors have been left with real debt,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly who chairs the House Subcommittee on Government Operations.
Monday contractors will testify at a hearing before the subcommittee as it tries to figure out the losses contractors suffered during the shutdown and what recourse is available to them moving forward.
While Congress passed a bill that the president signed into law guaranteeing federal government employees backpay after shutdowns, contractors have no such assurance.
According to Connolly’s office, about 800,000 contractors from 10,000 companies that support and enhance the government directly felt the shutdown’s negative effects.
Connolly said one contractor who sells food in a federal office building downtown had to close his cafe during the 35-day shutdown because he didn’t have any customers.
“That’s just lost revenue to him. That goes right to his bottom line,” Connolly said.
Contractors face more losses if the government shuts down again. While Connolly is hoping that doesn’t happen, he said they need to plan for the future. The committee is brainstorming potential legislative and administrative remedies that can make contractors whole following shutdowns.
Monday’s hearing runs from 9 a.m. to noon at George Mason University.
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