U.S. SEC staff should not worry about shutdown layoffs, union says

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission workers should not be “anxious” about potential mass layoffs if the government shuts down next week, a top union official has told agency staff.

SEC preparations for a possible government shutdown and its related communications with the union have been the same as in prior shutdowns, the head of the SEC’s union Greg Gilman said in a email on Thursday afternoon, seen by Reuters.

“There is no reason at present for SEC employees to be anxious that a shutdown at the SEC would be different than past shutdowns have been, or that it would result in a [further]reduction in our staff,” he wrote.

Neither Gilman nor the SEC immediately responded to requests for comment on Friday afternoon.

The White House this week threatened