Jan 11, 2019

White House adviser suggests being furloughed is like vacation

Sign reads "END THE SHUTDOWN."

Photo: Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty Images

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett suggested during a PBS NewsHour interview that furloughed federal workers might be "better off" following the shutdown because they're currently getting time off from work without having to use vacation days.

Why it matters: Approximately 800,000 federal workers missed their first paychecks Friday, with many struggling to pay bills, loans, and even childcare in the absence of consistent income. The shutdown is set to break the record tonight for longest in U.S. history, with no clear end in sight.

Go deeper: All the ways Americans are feeling the effects of the shutdown

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