DES MOINES, Iowa —

Iowa Workforce Development furloughed 67 employees Monday as a result of the federal government shutdown, with the agency saying essential services will continue.

Some impacted staff will be off work entirely, while most will be reduced to two days a week until the shutdown ends, the agency told KCCI.

Todd Copley is president of AFSCME Council 61, which represents about 15 of the furloughed workers.

“We’re scrambling. We just don’t know how to help them. We are doing the best that we can,” he said in an interview.

Copley said the immediate priority is helping affected employees access unemployment benefits.

“Immediately try and get a hold of someone so they can get set up for unemployment,” he said. “The problem is that Iowa Workforce Development handles most of th

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