An open letter in USA Today from David J. Skorton, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, has called for an end to the government shutdown, noting that the closures cost the institution $1 million a week. “Most important from a humanitarian perspective is the effect of loss of salary on our more than 4,000 furloughed employees,” he says. “It is reassuring and appreciated that the president and Congress have agreed to supply back pay once the government fully reopens. But to many of our employees, particularly those with more modest salaries, the loss of each paycheck causes direct and significant harm.”
Red more at USA Today
