For years, the steady paychecks of federal workers and contractors have formed the sturdy backbone of Montgomery County’s affluent economy. But this fall, the changing colors of the leaves in Gaithersburg aren’t the only signs of transition; a chilling economic shift is underway, threatening the financial health of one of Maryland’s wealthiest counties and poised to affect the entire Washington, D.C. region.
Economists and local businesses are starting to see the first cracks appear as federal funding cuts and workforce reductions trickle down from Washington, amplified by the current government shutdown.