BEAUMONT — The effects of the government shutdown are weighing heavily on employees of the federal prison in Beaumont. They haven't seen a paycheck in over two weeks. Union officials and family members of correctional officers gathered Tuesday to share their frustrations.
Cydni Piske's husband has spent the past 20 years working as a law enforcement officer for the federal prison. Prior to that, he served in the first Gulf War. They've endured several government shutdowns over his time as a government employee.
Piske said her husband is the sole provider for their family. The affects of the shutdown have payed a heavy toll on her husband and his fellow employees.
"Suicide rates among correctional officers are very high as it is, you're talking Christmas time a shut down," said Piske.
Piske said it feels like the government is holding them hostage over their egos.
Parker Strong serves as the vice president of the union. He's a father of five and the sole provider for his family, who just welcomed a new born the week before the shutdown.
"I had my step-daughter at home over Christmas and to tell her, 'this is the one week we get to see you in these three months, we can't do anything because i don't know when i'm getting paid, to tell a nine year old that that doesn't understand what's going on is hard," said Strong.
Strong said he has enough to take care of a month's worth of expenses. After that, he isn't sure what he'll do. When he heard Trump say the shutdown could go on for months, he started considering a back-up plan.
"People want their money, they don't care about the government shutdown they don't care about any of that," said Strong.
Christopher Boss is a 20-year veteran at the complex, and president of the union. He said employees are desperate for a solution.
"It's absolutely embarrassing that we have to apply for unemployment benefits, we work for the federal government and we're supposed to be protected, our lawmakers are supposed to take care of us and they've failed us," said Boss.
He fears what may happen if something isn't done soon. Employees are working over-time, and the added burden of financial struggles hasn't helped their situation.
"They're distracted, they're upset, they're angry obviously but when you get distracted and you get upset and you make mistakes behind those penitentiary walls you can get injured, you can get other people injured, and it can cost lives," said Boss.
The correctional officer's next pay period is the 25th of January. That'll mark one month without pay. Officers are hoping for a solution as soon as possible.