New Mexico
How one family is feeling the impact of the longest government shutdown
Many families across the country are feeling hopeless as federal employees continue to work without pay during what is now the longest government shutdown ever.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Many families across the country are feeling hopeless as federal employees continue to work without pay during what is now the longest government shutdown ever.
A New Mexico man, Jason Richards, reached out to KOB 4 sharing his frustration with Congress. Richards has a unique experience with shutdowns, going through several during his 21 year career as a Chief of Interpretation for the National Park Service.
For Richards, seeing the Petroglyph National Monument gates locked brought some tears to his eyes.
“It makes me emotional. It does. It’s sad, but it’s Congress’s fault. It’s not the American people’s fault. It’s Congress. Both sides are guilty,” said Richards.
Richards told us while some trails remain open, he’s worried for the safety of visitors and the public lands themselves as park rangers are not able to work full-time due to the shutdown.
“That’s my land out there. That’s your land out there. That’s our cameraman’s land out there,” Richards said. “It doesn’t belong to Congress. It belongs to the American people. Tear the gate down.”
A multi-generational problem
The pain is personal as Richards’ daughter followed in his footsteps and now works for the National Park Service on the East Coast. She hasn’t seen a paycheck since before the shutdown.
“She’s calling me and crying, saying, ‘Daddy, I don’t know what to do. I can’t pay my mortgage. I’m having hard time with getting food on the table.’ And her husband works for the government also.”
KOB 4 also spoke to his daughter, Amberleigh Leitenberger, on the phone Wednesday afternoon. She told us, “I’m extremely passionate about the Park Service and the Park Service mission and being second generation is really important to me. But, it’s very difficult to have to go through this repeatedly.”
When we asked Richards if there is any hope left for him and his daughter, he said, “No, there isn’t.”
Richards says he only asks now for Congress to listen to the American people and do what is best for them, not their agendas.