Money for Furloughed Feds Is Running Out

The organization that has helped cash-strapped furloughed feds is running out of money.

The Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund, which provides emergency no-interest loans, natural disaster grants and scholarships to needy federal workers, will have to stop handing out new furlough loans to employees next week unless they receive more donations, according to the organization. The nonprofit group has made more than 550 furlough-related loans since May 1, totaling more than $320,000. FEEA has provided more than $457,000 in total emergency loans to 800 feds since May.

By comparison, the group had a record year in fiscal 2012, giving out about $600,000 in total loans to 1,000 federal workers. FEEA has an annual budget of $1.5 million.

As furloughs kicked in this summer because of sequestration, the nonprofit’s work has continued at a rapid pace, said Robyn Kehoe, director of field operations.

FEEA, which has been around since 1986, has provided financial assistance to federal employees after several major natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

Donations can be made to the organization via credit card on FEEA's website at http://www.feea.org/Give. Donations via check made out to “FEEA” may be sent to: FEEA Headquarters, 3333 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 300, Lakewood, CO 80227.

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