Federal Geologist Discusses How He's Surviving The Government Shutdown

Published: Wednesday, January 23, 2019 - 3:34pm
Updated: Wednesday, January 23, 2019 - 3:46pm
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As the government shutdown continues, The Show's taking a closer look at the ways it’s affecting the community.

Today, The Show spoke to Judd Sampson. He is the forest geologist for the Tonto National Forest, and has been furloughed for more than a month now, as negotiations in Washington to end the shutdown continue to stall.

But this isn’t Sampson’s first rodeo. He was also furloughed in 2013 when the government shut down for three weeks and he says he was able to prepare for this one as the headlines seemed to point in that direction.

But he also said, as the shutdown continues into record-setting territory, its effects will be felt far beyond his own wallet.

Sampson wants to point out that he is not officially representing the USDA here — just his personal viewpoint.

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