‘There Are Some Congressional Staffers Who Have Already Tested Positive’
A staffer on Capitol Hill describes a state of confusion and uncertainty where we most need stability
Like the rest of the country, Capitol Hill is in a state of chaos this week as COVID-19 continues to spread at a breakneck rate. In addition to worrying about their own personal safety and hygiene concerns around the coronavirus, lawmakers in Congress must try to ensure the safety of their constituents. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are currently collaborating on an aid package for Americans, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on Thursday that the Senate would not go on its previously scheduled recess in order to instead work on coronavirus legislation. GEN spoke with an anonymous congressional staffer about our politicians’ response to the pandemic and whether the Capitol is ready for its employees to work from home.
We’re on pins and needles waiting to see how bad things will actually get. The wider debate right now is to what extent you want to shut down schools and businesses and everything else to control the spread, but obviously economic and social costs come with that. That debate is being played out in microcosm here on the Hill. Every office, plus the Capitol itself…
