coronavirus response in her home state of new york. and on the federal level as congress considers additional legislation for it also the food industry association talks with us about strains on the food supply. and challenges faced by food retailers during the coronavirus join the discussion three top members of the white house coronavirus task force is in corn team it expected to testify to senate hearing this week. according to a statement doctor anthony fauci, robert redfield and steven hanh will testify by videoconference. the precautions following news a white house aide tested positive for coronavirus last week. the official title of the hearing is safely getting back to work and school. you can watch it live tuesday.

on c-span three ondemand on c-span.org or listen on the go on the c-span radio app. with the senior correspondent with the publication executive recently published a piece looking at federal employees were looking at how they're being affected by covid-19 good morning sir. >> could you give us an update on where we are with positive cases? >> we have over 10000 that's growing pretty rapidly a lot around the front lines so their exposure is great and pretty elevated. we've seen that climb it a pretty rapid rate. the defense department has a lot of positive cases,

veterans affairs and healthcare employees have a lot of cases. the postal service is up there they're up there every day interacting with customers and doing the rounds so that has left a fairly high exposure. we were talking about over 2 million federal employees here. i that's to be expected there would be someul cases. you're talking say that top lines like thehe dod veterans postal service are their concerns there with the federal government? >> the emissions of these agenciesng are still being carried out. there certain rules that have gone into place and it's varied by agencies to try to mitigate the impact of large numbers of employers being sick due to exposure. we've seen agencies so they

don't have a shortfall of workers there hiring new nurses and frontline medical staff to making sure employees who might have exposure still works there making sure they don't have symptoms and still working. agencies are in some cases putting all their efforts into response efforts like homeland security department for example is taking a big role of screening and those who are coming back in place. fema's lien the charges a component of dhs how to

coordinate all the shipments of ppe and things like that. a lot of the agencies around government are focused on response efforts. some are still trying to carry out their normal duties for the social security administration and agencies like that. they're checking out the seniors and make sure the normal functioning of government is still conducted. >> as of april 2, 8500 of those infected with tsa were seeing fewer flights are there concerns overr flightsafety if you have that kind of number of employees at tsa specifically who have covid? >> that's a case where in the beginning there was a concern, there is a lot of employees staying home. the agencies was allowing anyone who felt like they might be at a high risk and they didn't really need to prove it they just had to

express to the supervisor they were not comfortable coming in. that left thousands of employees staying home. but at this point, the flight traffic is so low they have more staff than they need. thosee going to work or working one or two days a week or even just a couple days every other week. then they'll be placed on paid administrative leave to be home. they are sort of adjusting to the facts they are screening a small fraction of what they normally do. if talk to some tsa executives who say this just really nothing for us to do right now. i think they have covered their basis. >> eric joining us for this conversation we have divided the lines differently if you want to give commentsmm on federal employees and heather being affected by covid if your federal employee two oh

274-8000 is the number to call if you are a contractor for the federal government (202)748-8001 all others 8002 can also text us and you can tweet us your questions or comments thereto. find a contractor, eric how might being affectedd differently if i'm an actual employee of the federal government? >> contractors are in some cases operating under a different set of rules. they won't necessarily be subject to the same leave policies that the government is implementing, which is not consistent across all agencies. in some cases lawyers are eligible -- federalal employees are eligible for things that contracts may not be. they are answering to a different boss in most cases.

they have to follow their own companies guidelines. they might not be receiving of equipment that federal employees do although agencies reallyug struggle to get that sort of masks and things like that distributed at a rapid rate across the b board. so even though you work next to somebody might be subject to a different set of rules. i think the contractors are used to that they're creating some weird dynamics in the office. >> if i am a federal employee and i can track covid-19, am i required to stop working? m >> yes. theoretically if you test positive you should be sent home immediately or told to stay home if you are already

there. you will most likely have to take your own sick leave in order to continue getting paid. and if you don't you risk being placed on leave without pay. some agencies are doing that differently so you are on administrative leave in therefore you don't take your own personal leave. but generally speaking, yes you do have to stay home and in some cases you willme be asked -- in every case eventually you will have to come back in some agencies will be more quickly than others. in some agency we see once your fevers been down for three days then you are askedve to come back in for some it's a week or ten days so it depends where you are. you should not be working if you test positive. >> then if other states are opening up their government

there is a drive to open up a federal government and bring people back to work to offices at the not teleworking what are the concerns facing those -- facing that idea of coming back or wherever else there is a federal facility. >> there federal facilities around the country about 85% are outside the washington area. thursday the federal government put out guidance about twoee weeks ago how agencies should be looking at their reopening. they differ a lot to local leaders they went agencies to start thinking about how they can bring employees back to the office but they are not prescribing necessarily when that should happen like you mentioned that's creating some

concern there were they have to go back before -- before proper equipment can be provided in certain steps can be taken with social distancing that plays within the office i've talked it people take mass transit how did they get in? how they get exposed? employees are still to get masks and other things they don't want to sit in a all the office all day wearing a mask. a lot of these workers have been doing their jobs just fine from home, they don't see that rush to get back into the office because they are still able to do anything anything and everything they've had to do remotely.

that's creating concerns and some of these offices they are very crowded. there is no way to avoid staying 6 feet apart if your cubicle is right on top of another so to speak. maybe we will see people going back in on a rotational basis half one we can have the other week things like that. i think we will see this in phases their deafening employees worried about what this will look like. two again those federal employees if you want to ask questions or give comments for contractors to o2. [inaudible] to have a conversation with eric, government executive will start with bobby in illinois. go ahead to your question or comment. >> caller: good morning my

question was how, as far as federal employees is being affected? can they take federal monies, just like the working public as far as people that's on unemployment that's trying to gett stimulus money or unemployment money how is that actually affecting federal employees as well if you can answer that question? that's my first question. my other question is as far as done that take money from the taxpayer as well? c1 mr. capps. >> guest: yes the stimulus payment that congress authorized that's been put into law the federal employees are qualified based on their

salary, they would receive those payments. there's also a carveout for them federal employees dealing with sick leave. so most federal employees shouldst be eligible for an extra two weeks of sick leave if they get sick due to the coronavirus. there has not been any cases of federal employees being laid off through a reduction forces a call in government so far so there should not be, at least not on any widespread scale unemployment uptick in unemployment amongst federal workers due to the coronavirus we seen in so many other sectors that we've seen around the country and the private sector the private sector is largely still working, still doing their job and not impacted in terms of

unemployment. steve went from joseph he will join us from bell california, go ahead. >> caller: good morning c-span. i think when everything. [inaudible] i think coronavirus showing the country is receiving people actually. coronavirus showedho a real case of how disastrous it is for federal law enforcement for trump to deny the situation which. [inaudible] we are trying to save our own people's lives. we have the highest number of affected people while we are suffering from the shortage of ppe.

we are fictional. [inaudible] c1 those joseph m bell, california. the federal employee has to go to work placeso the issued and of ppe to take care of that employee? >> caller: no. just depends what agency you are in, it's getting better all the time in terms of access to ppe. however there is still agencies where they say you have to bring your own masks and things of that sort. i heard a lot about food inspection, meat plants were hotspots have developed in hundreds of plants employees have tested positive and is led to closures. there federal inspectors in every single one of those plants.

i've read about them and they were not being provided masks until just a few days ago. they just started providing masks there. that led to a lot of employees getting sick a lot of the federal inspectors getting sick. it va i've written a lot about shortages they are, employees were working in the emergency room getting one mask. week. or one. shift and that's usually the more basic surgical mask enought, and 95. as the best way to prevent the spread of the virus. irs recalled the bunch of employees and originally they were not provided masks but eventually irs secured that. fema and thers health and services department we reported last week began

shipments to ship them to agency needing them for employee use. as help in getting more that if it's needed, it is not been across the board from the get-go and in some cases it's been far short of that. >> host: will this is from washington state will he will hear from dawn. >> good: morning. >> caller: thanks for taking her calls. just wanted to say, i think we need to get back to life. please get back to work, school, this is all going to go with federal workers in the top down. my dad always told me you shouldn't write a check to can't cash so it's all going to run out and another time. another caller just said it it's all stuff being passed down from her hundreds of years of hard work.

>> host: won't yourk like art guest to address and specifically?? >> caller: i just think we need all work together, we need to get this ppe under control. we have families of all color all creed that are dealing with this throughout the entire nation. if stores that have already shut down that are not coming back. sue went okay that's donna washington state the caller said it's gotta start with the federal government getting back to work. is that a likelihood the federal government will be back to full swing? >> caller: it's a really interesting point because there is that feeling out there that the federal government will set the tone here. obviously, i have talked to many employees who have raised this point. obviously president trump has been pushing the notion we need to reopen the country as

he says, everybody back to work who has been at home. and what does that mean? will the use federal government as the guinea pig here. what we've seen so far is more that the federal government will follow the guidelines set by governors and state health officials and leaders. there is not yet been a drive to make the federal government set the tone for everybody else. it has been more what is going on in your area for your facility is felt the guidelines that are being set in thatar area. that could change, there could be a nationwide push some agencies are starting to

recall their employees. all agency state open only some made employees continue going to their normal workstations because of the nature of their work they had to be there, tsa we talked about earlier, ba, their mission requires employees to be there they cannot work remotely. but other than that it has been sort of a slow, small number that have come back into theirk offices. we are still waiting to see that ramp up. >> host: here's what the union that represents federal employees said going back to more than usual. this is universal testing for covid-19 using science -based standards for worksites treating all workers eat and rent equal with her terms of exposure. there's adequate protection of supplies removal of symptomatic employees and those in contactem with

effective workers with any and all bargaining obligation. that is a long list. what's the likelihood the union will get all that? >> the long listed somewhere we are pretty far from checking all of those boxes. i would say it's on likely we have for example universal testing before employees go back to offices. that would be ideal obviously, we just have not ramped up the capacity for that yet in this country. i don't know when that would happen if ever, i don't think that would be a prerequisite in terms of what this administration is looking for to get employees back. i think some of that stuff we are seeing and will continue to see sitting employees home when they test positive. isolating employees have had exposure doesn't happen every agency we talked about the

va. i think in normal office settings that can be a policy that's implemented. providing appropriate masks and things like that, for starting to see that more and more like i described. some of these requirements or requests unions are asking for, i think will be implemented. there's been an adversarial relationship between two sides. how this is only i bargained over, they have not always agreed on even what should be negotiated over the last fewia years. i've see the unions when lookout for their members.

so that could lead to some tension. >> host: going to wisconsin, david hello. >> caller: good morning how are you doing? >> fine go ahead. >> caller: like to stress the point of gloves course she got the nurses gloves, i am talking about a nice pair of knit gloves you can buy anywhere from two to $12 having rubber on the outside you can use hand cleaners with them, or just spray them with lysol they are very handy, very comfortable and can be worn long term. believe the virus will keep spreading into we wear gloves to protect ourselves and masks to protect others. and get back to work.got it. see when that's david wisconsin we have a viewer that asks this.

has worker productivity been effective working from home? is there with measuring if productivity remains the same? >> guest: i think some of this will take some time to measure it was a retrospective look some early cases productivity stayed where it was her going up. even with the social security administration they were reducing their backlog. premature everyone from the agencies working for home. there's a lot of cases built up checks and eligibility and some agencies that won't be possible.ib where there is administrative hearings that have to happen, some of those are happening

over zoom and other things like that. they cannot happen when they are not meeting in person. some cases that will lead to more backlog piling up. what were hearing and seeing their continuing to focus on their mission to get the job done. there've been some cases at the irs for example were lots of employees tens ofmp thousands perhaps were not set up for they did not have agency laptop or they did not have proper equipment. they're actually not even working it alright others talk to some employees it's been weeks now they've been home, theyey said i'm ready and willing to telework if you'll let me but they have not been set up for that. the defense department and

other agencies around government there are certain rules about classified information or you have to be in a certain protected facility and able to look at the documents and they don't have that set up foron home. so some of that work is either not being conducted the employees have to still go in and in order to do that. that has created some complications as well with normal workflow.f like i said, for the most part the work is getting done. >> host: this is from marilyn's, gloria good morning you are all with our guest. >> caller: good morning. i wasn't sure you were talking to me. my name is gloria, i am very comforted by the fact that america seems to be going with the experts, i am so proud of our governor, my governor especially.no governor hogan if i ever got to shake his hand i would say

he's almost persuaded me to it be a republican. i'm not serious they have to do something about the white house. i don't think we know enough about the virus to be rushing people back to work. i understand it is a multi faceted problem but the tweety bird in the white house has to learn to understand that his next campaign to remain president, and i hope he doesn't, he hasn't such astronomical harm. >> host: call overtime up the federal workers specifically jeff a question for ouret gas? >> caller: the specific out ask our gas is if people are forced back to work too soon, be the federal employees, mom-and-pop businesses, whatever, what is the cost if we wind up losing everything we've gained? we don't have enough testing, we don't have enough masks, we

don't have enough of anything. why are we even suggesting to go back into emergency by putting people in harm's way? >> guest: there certainly a risk of going back to soon.we we've seen in federal offices and of course in places across the country where employees have had to continue working. we know hotspots can develop. none of us are immune to that. there could be that possibility after few weeks they realize it's not safe and have to close again. this administration would really not like to see that happen. but you can't rule it out many of these offices are crowded, there's hundreds or thousands

of employees. some especially in headquarters in d.c., they're of of thousands of employees goingen into them and funneled into smaller entranceways often in common areas. there's only so many you can do to spread out and make sure employees -- rick if you're writing to an elevator things of that nature. there is a concern about reenteringe too soon. we've talked about with the unions are looking for before that happens. some of the demands they are making. all of those will beth met. once agencies really start to bring employees back, will keep an eye on certainly the government will be keeping an eye on it there's uptick in cases. >> host: over the last couple of weeks for the subsets of the pandemic has been the

discussion about the effect of the early presidents perspective on the postall ceservice. what are the concerns with the postal service at this time? >> guest: the postal service is dealing with the crisis on multiple fronts. with talked at the very beginning about a large number of employees themselves have contracted the virus. although not a huge percentage based on the amount and size of their workforce. they're also facing a financial crisis based on this. the postal service has been dealing with financial issues for about a dozen years now. that's when it really started to hit at least. where they have been losing money year after year. some of this is based on certain constraints placed on them by congress and how they have togrpe operate. largely a lot of it is based on the fact their business model is changing and

evolving. people don't send as much mail as they used to. that is all being exacerbated at this crisis with the economic fallout from the pandemic is being felt all across the country people are sending less mail and that is hurting the agency. they anticipate sends of billions of dollars in losses. on the huge mail volume decreased due to pandemic. they're asking congress for financial assistance. the postal service is not received any appropriations from congress, essentially none. they are all funded by you sending mail and and sending packages and things like that. so they want financial assistance, they want a loan, they want a cash injection, they want projects with capital investments to be

funded. that amounts to $75 billion they've asked for. the president has been there he reluctant to acquiesce to that. democrats in congress are pushing to accept that sort of assistance but republicans in the white house are pushing back. president trump, the issue he's pushing for years as the postal service should raise the rates instead of getting more money in their mix of thoughts on what that would mean for the agency. so far they're sorted but a standstill there's expected to be a push in the next bill congress passes to include the postal service to help alleviate some of these concerns. but the president, so far says it's a no go for him. others are pushing for more comprehensive reform. it's the postal service to get the sort of appropriation.

systemic eric is with the exact lives senior correspondent for the government. thank you for your time sir. >> thanks for having me. stu maxey spent "washington journal" life every day with news and policy issues that impact you. coming up tuesday morning we will discuss supreme court oral arguments on cases involving president trump finances with "washington post" reporter robert. discussions about reopening the u.s. economy during the covid-19 pandemic. : : :

watch c-span's washington journal live at seven eastern on tuesday morning, joined the discussion. >> tonight here on c-span2 "the communicators" is next with microsoft president brad smith. that is followed by vermont senator ernie sanders speaking to "the washington post" about the coronavirus response and the 2020 presidential election. later the supreme court hears oral argument in two cases in the first dealing with criminal jurisdiction over indian lands and the other involving the role of federal courts and discrimination cases by employees of religious institutions. ♪ >> c-span has unfiltered coverage of congress, the white house, the sipping court and

public-policy events from the presidential primary during the impeachment process. and now the federal response to the coronavirus. you can watch all of c-span public affairs programming on television, online or listen on the free radio app. be a part of the national conversation through c-span's daily washington journal program or through our social media feeds. c-span, created by america's cable television company as a public service and brought you today by your television provider. >> brad smith, microsoft president, what is your premise of your new book, tools and weapons? >> guest: digital technology has both become a tool and a weapon. it's creating all benefits but all kinds of challenges as well and we have to grapple with both sides of that equation we want