South Carolina to end federal COVID-19-related unemployment By (0) South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster blamed federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits for the worker shortage his state is currently experiencing. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jerry Boffen/U.S. National Guard/Flickr May 6 (UPI) -- South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Thursday ordered all of the state's federal pandemic-related unemployment programs to be terminated, citing them as responsible for the state's labor shortage. In a letter to Department of Employment and Workforce Director Daniel Ellzey, the Republican governor called for the state to stop participating in the programs effective June 30, stating they pose "a clear and present danger" to the health of the state's businesses and economy.