After losing his six-figure job as a federal contractor last year, Quentin Adams, of Bowie, Maryland, now delivers food and online orders to make ends meet.
Last year, Quentin Adams, of Bowie, Maryland, was living his dream, developing websites and apps as a contractor for the federal government.
But when that job ended, it began one of the darkest chapters in his life.
“They called me in the office and said, ‘Yeah, your last day will be Friday.’ This was like Thursday. And I’m like, ‘What?’” Adams said.
Adams, 61, had spent over a year building web applications for USAID as a contractor. He was let go unexpectedly last year, prior to this year’s DOGE cuts. While the exact reason for his departure wasn’t made clear, he was told there was no money left to continue his role.
At the time, Adams was earning a six-figure salary. Now, he is delivering food and online purchases for Uber Eats and DoorDash to survive.
“I go from that to $300–$400 a week, not being able to afford a car note, not being able to afford a mortgage,” he told WTOP.
He said the emotional toll of not being able to get back into a job in his field weighs heavily.
“It’s hard. It’s touching my faith,” Adams said, adding that his church’s reverend helps keep him encouraged.
Despite 28 years of experience in software development, Adams has applied to many jobs he said with no success. At first, he believed the holiday season was to blame, but come January he realized similar positions were far and few between.
“I realized I put in application after application on job boards, and I guess there’s so much competition, we’re all vying for the same job,” he said.
“I have software development skills; I have some business skills; I have some project management skills, but I can’t seem to get a job,” he said.
While Adams lost his job last year, this year’s DOGE cuts have flooded the job market with thousands of newly displaced federal workers and contractors, making it even harder for him to find a position similar to the one he held.
Experts say the surge in federal layoffs has intensified competition for tech and contracting roles, especially in the D.C. region, where many rely on government work.
Adams recently received a job offer, but now fears it is off the table due to the current government shutdown.
As he continues to work gig jobs, he worries about losing his car and falling deeper into financial hardship.
“Sometimes I wonder, what’s the end result? Yesterday, I started looking at bankruptcy possibilities,” Adams said. “If I file bankruptcy, what does that do for my potential clearance and getting my next job?”
Still, he is thankful for the income he earns through deliveries.
“It’s something. At least it puts money in my gas tank,” he said.
And he remains hopeful.
“Keep hope alive. Stay close to prayer,” Adams said. “Keep trying.”
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A 35-year veteran controller who worked at several major U.S. facilities and airport towers talked with WTOP about the challenges faced in the procession, including the government shutdown.
Among the government employees who are required to show up to work, and for now are not getting paid, are air traffic controllers.
There are more than 14,000 air traffic controllers who work for the Federal Aviation Administration. It’s work that is stressful and can be full of high-anxiety to begin with, and a shutdown and potential for massive job cuts compound the pressures of the job.
A recently retired, 35-year veteran controller who worked at several major U.S. facilities and airport towers told WTOP, “The air traffic profession is a stressful situation no matter what’s going on in the political sphere.”
It’s not the first time some controllers have expressed feeling that their jobs were being used as part of a game or tug-of-war between political parties. The former controllers’ union, PATCO, held a brief strike in 1981 during former President Ronald Reagan’s administration, protesting wages and long work hours. Thousands of those striking workers were fired.
“Sometimes the profession is used as political pawns between the different parties, and it shouldn’t be that way. But funding for the Federal Aviation Administration is discretionary rather than mandatory and many don’t know that,” said the veteran controller, who WTOP agreed to keep anonymous.
Already, there have been staffing issues at several U.S. airports where control towers have gone understaffed, such as in Burbank, California, and Nashville, Tennessee.
There’s been a growing amount of general flight delays and cancellations, including at Reagan National Airport. Those numbers continue to grow by the day as the number of shutdown days increase.
“Safety is No. 1, paramount, in every controller’s mind,” the veteran controller said. “They are a highly-skilled, technical workforce that they’re able to mostly put their problems aside and do the job safely and efficiently day in and day out.”
During the shutdown period, there hasn’t been any documented airline or airport incidents relating to a lack of safety reported by airlines or government agencies.
In the case where the control tower at Burbank Airport was not staffed, operations and airport traffic were handled by San Diego controllers, CNN reported.
WTOP was told by the veteran controller that hearing about an empty tower is disconcerting, however, takeoff and arrival routes and sequences operate much like vehicles lining up to exit and reenter a major highway.
“You still need great communication between pilots and the controllers, but it’s a manageable situation,” the veteran controller said.
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Reagan National Airport became the latest this week to report delays because of staffing issues Wednesday amid a government shutdown.
Passengers walk from a terminal at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)(AP/Matt Rourke)
Passengers walk from a terminal at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)(AP/Matt Rourke)
The federal government shutdown has entered its second week, and already shortages of air traffic controllers have strained operations and disrupted flights at some U.S. airports.
Reagan National Airport became the latest this week to report delays because of staffing issues on Wednesday. But earlier in the week there were also problems at airports in Chicago, Newark, Denver and Nashville, and the tower even had to shut down for several hours in Burbank, California.
Experts, as well as union leaders representing air traffic controllers and security screeners, warn that the impact could grow significantly worse if the shutdown continues and employees start to miss paychecks.
Here is what to know about your rights as a passenger and what you can do if delays and cancellations start piling up:
Check before going to the airport
It is better to be stuck at home or in a hotel than to be stranded in an airport terminal, so use the airline’s app or flight websites to make sure that your flight is still on before heading to the airport. This FAA site can be checked to see if there are widespread delays at your airport.
Kyle Potter, executive editor of Thrifty Traveler, suggests also closely monitoring the news if you have upcoming travel plans.
“A deal, in theory, could come through Congress any day now, and that could put all of this doubt lingering over air travel to an end pretty quickly,” Potter said.
My flight was canceled. Now what?
If you are already at the airport, it is time to find another flight. Get in line to speak to a customer service representative, and call or go online to connect to the airline’s reservations staff. It also helps to reach out on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, because airlines might respond quickly there.
Airlines will rebook you on a later flight for no additional charge. The good news right now is that this is not a peak travel time, so travelers stand a better chance of finding seats. But the busy holiday season is right around the corner, and at those peak times, passengers might have to wait days for a seat on a new flight.
Consider other travel options
If these problems do become more widespread, you might consider whether it makes sense to travel by train, car or bus instead. But there is really no way to predict when and where a staff shortage might happen, and the ongoing shortage of controllers is so critical that even a small number of absences can cause problems.
Potter said the shutdown is different from when a single airline is having problems and travelers can just pick another carrier. This is creating problems for entire airports at once.
“As these problems expand and spread the longer the shutdown drags on, it’s unlikely that there will be one airline running on time if the rest of the them are failing,” he said. “It’s going to affect the entire system over time.”
Can I ask to be booked on another airline?
You can, but airlines aren’t required to put you on another carrier’s flight. Some airlines, including the biggest ones except Southwest and the discount airlines, say they can put you on a partner airline. But even then it is often hit or miss.
Jeff Klee, the CEO of CheapAir.com, has recommended researching alternate flights while you wait to talk to an agent.
Am I owed a refund?
If you no longer want to take the trip, or have found another way of getting to your destination, the airline is legally required to refund your money, even if you bought a non-refundable ticket. It doesn’t matter why the flight was canceled.
“If the airline cancels your flight, you can say, ‘Alright. I will take a refund and get my money back,’ ” Potter said. “The important piece is that you get your payment returned to you. You’re not just settling for an airline voucher that may expire in a year or less.”
You are also entitled to a refund of any bag fees, seat upgrades or other extras that you didn’t get to use.
Can I get compensation?
U.S. airlines are not required to pay additional cash compensation and cover lodging and meals for passengers who are stranded, even if a flight cancellation or a severe delay is the airline’s fault.
The Biden administration had proposed a rule that would have changed that and required airlines to pay passengers for delays and cancellations in more circumstances, with compensation proposed between about $200 and as high as $775. But the Trump administration scrapped that last month, and the airlines praised him for doing so.
What airlines will cover
Each airline is different. The U.S. Department of Transportation has a site that lets consumers see the commitments that each carrier makes for refunds and covering other expenses when flights are canceled or significantly delayed.
Other tips
Travel insurance might help if you bought a policy when you booked or used a travel credit card that offers that product, but Potter said you shouldn’t assume you will be covered even if you have insurance. Check the fine print to see if you are covered in situations like this when a shortage of workers causes flight disruptions.
If many flights are canceled, airline agents will soon be overwhelmed by requests. If you’re traveling in a group with someone who has a higher status in the airline’s loyalty program, call using their frequent flyer number. You may get quicker service.
You also can try calling your airline’s international support number, which is usually listed online and may have shorter wait times.
Be nice. The agent is likely helping other frustrated travelers, too, and yelling won’t make them more willing to help. Remember, the cancellation isn’t their fault.
Labor leaders called on Congress to find a way to end the government shutdown outside the American Federation of Government Employees headquarters in D.C.
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Frustrated federal workers’ unions call for end to government shutdown
“Open the government today! Open the government today!”
That was the chant outside the American Federation of Government Employees headquarters in D.C., where labor leaders called on Congress to find a way to end the government shutdown.
AFGE represents roughly 820,000 government workers.
National President Everett Kelley said his members are deeply stressed by the shutdown, which entered its eighth day Wednesday. He cited the actions of President Donald Trump’s administration, from its mass firings that began in February to its indication it would deny furloughed workers back pay.
“That tells you what kind of administration we’re dealing with, right? They’re inhuman. They don’t care about people,” Kelley said.
Speakers outside the AFGE offices, just blocks from the U.S. Capitol, said again and again that Congress must find a way to get federal workers back on the job.
“The American people and the workers who keep this country running are being held hostage by a political dispute,” said Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Department with the AFL-CIO.
Randy Erwin, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, also criticized Trump directly. Speaking at the podium during a sudden downpour, Erwin referred to the 2019 law that calls for furloughed workers to get back pay when the federal government shuts down.
“He intends to either violate the law, or degrade, frighten, antagonize hardworking federal employees whose only crime is caring and wanting to work for the American people.”
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, became slightly emotional as she said the 55,000 flight attendants she represents “count on federal workers every single day to do our jobs.”
Nelson said the stresses on federal employees and their families have a potential impact on transportation safety.
“Because in safety we know, the first rule is to remove all distractions in order to keep things safe,” she said. “What could be more of a distraction than not getting a paycheck? Not knowing if you’re going to be able to keep your family in your home? Not knowing if you’re going to be able to buy that insulin that you need to keep your child alive?”
Nelson said aviation workers are constantly assessing safety.
“We do that so the American public who travels with us can take safety and security for granted.”
Kelley wrapped up the rally by saying workers want to see a solution to the shutdown, and said in a thunderous voice, “Congress, do your job!”
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As the government shutdown enters its second week, D.C. nonprofit Bread for the City is preparing for a spike in demand for food, diapers and clothing, especially from furloughed federal workers and contractors.
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From beans to diapers, DC nonprofit gears up to help 1,000 more families amid shutdown
As the government shutdown enters its second week, D.C. nonprofit Bread for the City is preparing for a spike in demand for food, diapers and clothing, especially from furloughed federal workers and contractors.
“They’re not sure if they’re going to get their (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits or Social Security benefits,” Food and Clothing Director Trazy Collins said. “We’ve been a place that’s letting folks know — we’re still here.”
This week marks the first missed paycheck for many federal employees, and Collins said that’s expected to bring a wave of new clients seeking help.
Standing beside a stack of beans, part of the nonprofit’s emergency inventory in Northwest D.C., Collins said Bread for the City is preparing to serve 1,000 more families this month alone.
Contractors, she said, are especially vulnerable.
“There’s no guarantee they’re going to receive back pay. … There’s not even a guarantee they’ll have a job at the end of this,” she said.
While SNAP benefits are expected to continue through November, Collins said the state of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, remains uncertain, adding to the anxiety among families with young children.
“People who have never expected to go to a food pantry, who have never expected to seek out diaper assistance. … We’re making sure folks know where to go, making sure folks are accessing those resources,” Collins said.
Collins said her message to anyone struggling is that Bread for the City will be there to help.
“If they are wanting to get out and be in community, we’re here. We welcome them to come volunteer with us or take part in some of our social service events,” she said.
Client services at both of BFTC’s centers in Northwest and Southeast D.C. will close at noon on Wednesday.
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This woman is among the hundreds of thousands of federal government contractors whose livelihoods are being threatened by the government shutdown.
cnn-L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2ltYWdlL2luc3RhbmNlcy9jbWdmazU1NWkwMDBhM2I2bjNyZ3c4eHht-L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2FydGljbGUvaW5zdGFuY2VzL2NtZ2ZpY2x3ZjAwMjAyN3FrMzQ0cTRuZ2o=-300 The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History was open during the first day of a partial government shutdown in Washington, DC, on October 1, 2025. cnn-L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2ltYWdlL2luc3RhbmNlcy9jbWdmazVwZW0wMDBjM2I2bjA4bWI1N3M2-L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2FydGljbGUvaW5zdGFuY2VzL2NtZ2ZpY2x3ZjAwMjAyN3FrMzQ0cTRuZ2o=-300 The Federal Triangle metro station in Washington, DC, on October 2. President Donald Trump is weighing slashing “thousands” of federal jobs ahead of a meeting with his budget director, Russell Vought, as the White House looks to ratchet up pressure on Democrats to end a government shutdown that has entered its second day. cnn-L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2ltYWdlL2luc3RhbmNlcy9jbWdmazN2N24wMDA2M2I2bm80ZGU1a3U3-L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2FydGljbGUvaW5zdGFuY2VzL2NtZ2ZpY2x3ZjAwMjAyN3FrMzQ0cTRuZ2o=-300 The US Capitol seen in Washington, DC, on October 1, 2025, the first day of the US federal government shutdown. cnn-L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2ltYWdlL2luc3RhbmNlcy9jbWdmazRjNGgwMDA4M2I2bmQzc2h0a3Vn-L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2FydGljbGUvaW5zdGFuY2VzL2NtZ2ZpY2x3ZjAwMjAyN3FrMzQ0cTRuZ2o=-300 A Transportation Security Administration agent monitors travelers at the Dallas Love Field Airport on August 28, 2025. TSA agents, like other federal employees, are not paid during a government shutdown. cnn-L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2ltYWdlL2luc3RhbmNlcy9jbWdmazcxd2MwMDBpM2I2bmV1bjB4azUz-L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2FydGljbGUvaW5zdGFuY2VzL2NtZ2ZpY2x3ZjAwMjAyN3FrMzQ0cTRuZ2o=-300 The US Capitol Visitor Center is closed on the first day of the government shutdown in Washington, DC, on October 1, 2025.
New York (CNN) — Audrey Murray is losing sleep over the government shutdown that could soon derail her paychecks.
Murray, 65, has worked as a cleaner at the Smithsonian Museum of American History for nearly three decades. Now she is among the hundreds of thousands of federal government contractors whose livelihoods are being threatened by the political dysfunction in Washington, DC.
“It’s so sad that they think they can play with people’s lives,” Murray told CNN while fighting back tears. “Stop this. Stop messing with people. We have families who depend on us.”
The Smithsonian Institution, which includes all the Smithsonian museums, plans to go dark after Saturday if the government shutdown continues beyond then, according to its website.
If that happens, Murray worries how she will provide for her three children and grandchildren in Capitol Heights, Maryland.
“I don’t know how I’m going to feed my kids or pay my mortgage. It’s not about me. I don’t care if I don’t eat, but I want them to,” said Murray. “I pay my bills and do everything I’m supposed to. But I’m worried and I can’t sleep.”
Why contractors aren’t paid
Government shutdowns can create hardships for Americans who rely on government services and for those who work in the federal government.
During a shutdown, federal employees are not paid — even if they are deemed essential — and are required to report to work. Essential workers include those at the Transportation Security Administration who screen passengers and baggage at airports.
However, those federal workers get backpay once the lapse in funding is over. But there is no such obligation for government contract workers, according to legal experts.
“Not only are they not guaranteed backpay, they rarely — if ever — get it,” said Judy Conti, government affairs director at the National Employment Law Project (NELP), a nonprofit advocating for an inclusive economy and worker rights.
The problem is that contractors are paid by the federal government for the services they provide, whether that’s security work, meal prep or cleaning office buildings. But if there are no services because buildings are shut down, the contractor doesn’t get paid.
This is especially painful for lower-wage workers, who often live paycheck-to-paycheck and may have minimal savings for emergencies. Union officials say this problem has an even greater impact on women and people of color, who make up a bigger proportion of the low-wage workforce and often have fewer financial resources to bridge the gap.
Tiara Roberts, a single mom in Maryland with three children, is concerned about how she will get by if her contract job providing security at a Smithsonian museum is derailed by the shutdown.
“This affects me to the extreme. It really triggers me,” said Roberts, whose children include a six-month-old and a 3-year-old. “I have a lot on my plate already, and this is just an added-on stressor.”
Roberts hopes to make ends meet by working as an Uber driver or an Instacart delivery worker.
Filing for unemployment
Nichole Atallah, a partner who specializes in labor and government contracting at the law firm PilieroMazza, said the general rule is that contract workers aren’t made whole after a shutdown.
“If you’re a cafeteria worker or a janitor, you can’t make up that time. It’s lost,” Atallah told CNN in a phone interview.
Although employers can decide to pay contract workers despite the shutdown, experts say that’s rare when it comes to hourly workers in blue-collar jobs.
Atallah said contract employers will sometimes work to compensate workers in highly skilled positions who are hurt by the shutdown.
“If I have a more highly skilled person working on contract, I’m more likely to bend over backwards to make sure someone doesn’t find another job than I am with a janitor,” Atallah said.
Although there is often a waiting period before someone can apply for unemployment benefits, Atallah urged impacted contract workers who get furloughed to immediately apply because some unemployment systems in the DC area are already strained by federal layoffs.
“They should apply for unemployment as soon as possible so they’re first in line if the shutdown lasts,” Atallah said.
Shutdown blame game
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) estimates that more than half a million employees of federal contractors were without work and not provided backpay during the record-long shutdown of 2018-2019.
A campaign to get backpay for contract workers failed to make headway during that shutdown, which lasted 35 days.
Last week, Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota and Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts introduced legislation to provide backpay for federal workers who face furloughs and lose income during a shutdown. The bill, called the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act, would provide backpay for contract workers, including low-wage service workers for an amount equal to their weekly compensation up to $1,442.
“This is about fairness—contract workers and their families should not miss a paycheck because of a government shutdown they did nothing to cause,” Smith said in a statement about the legislation.
Jamie Contreras, executive vice president at 32BJ SEIU, which represents about 2,400 federally contracted security officers, office cleaners and food service workers, urged the Trump administration and Republicans to avoid “punishing working-class families” in this shutdown.
“For decades, 32BJ’s federally contracted janitors and security officers have done the hard and important work to keep key federal government buildings safe and clean,” Contreras said. “Many are single mothers and the sole providers for their families who were forced to rely on public assistance to survive and fell further behind on bills during previous shutdowns.”
White House spokesman Kush Desai declined to say whether the Trump administration supports paying federal contract workers who get furloughed during the shutdown.
“American contract workers are another casualty of the Democrats’ needless and destructive government shutdown,” Desai said in a statement to CNN.
‘Not fair’
Maria Madonado, a single mother of three who lives in New Carrolton, Maryland, told CNN through a translator that her work as a contracted cleaner at the IRS headquarters is being impacted by the shutdown. She fears she won’t be able to pay her bills.
She said her supervisor told her and her colleagues not to come into work last Thursday due to the shutdown. Then the cleaners were asked to return on Friday because the building was a mess.
Madonado’s status this week is unclear.
Madonado, who is from El Salvador and has lived in the United States for 26 years, said it’s “not fair” that she won’t get paid because “it’s not that we’re not working because we don’t want to.”
Due to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, Madonado — who holds a green card — is reluctant to go on unemployment or apply for other aid out of fear it will hurt her chances of eventually becoming a US citizen.
“It’s really strange because you think you’re more secure in a government job than in a regular job,” she said. “And today I realized that’s not the case.”
Federal workers who live in Maryland raised concerns about the federal government shutdown Monday with Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks.
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Federal workers who live in Maryland participated in a virtual town hall Monday night, hosted by Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks to raise concerns about the federal government shutdown.
Some participants, such as Amanda from Reisterstown, sounded defeated: “We’re feeling pretty beat down at this point.”
While others such as Joe from Germantown, were pushing for action: “I want to know what you’re doing to fight back against this.”
Rayna from Upper Marlboro was among those who asked practical questions: “The backpay for federal workers, I just want to know what kind of guarantee that we will see this?”
That backpay is guaranteed by law, Van Hollen said.
He said when federal employees are hurt, everyone in the country gets hurt because they lose government services.
“I want to thank our federal employees, they are great patriots,” Van Hollen said. “They perform vital services for the American people.”
Alsobrooks said she has felt the pain of the shutdown, because she knows so many federal workers personally.
“It hurts all of us,” Alsobrooks said. “The thing that is so ridiculous about this shutdown, is it hurts both Democrat and Republican families.”
The Senate held a pair of votes Monday aimed at funding the federal government, but neither proposal came close to gaining the 60 votes needed to advance.
The last government shutdown, the nation’s longest, ended in January 2019 after 35 days.
The current government shutdown would enter its second week Wednesday.
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The government shutdown is creating uncertainty for low-income women and children who rely on WIC — the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
The ongoing government shutdown is creating uncertainty for low-income women and children who rely on WIC — the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
While WIC is currently being sustained by a $150 million emergency fund, that money is only expected to last a few weeks. If it runs out, states and local jurisdictions may need to step in to keep the program going.
“Without the help of WIC, I know that the families are going to need a lot more help,” said Megan Joe, executive director of the hunger relief program at So What Else. “And they are already struggling to have enough funds at the state that they’re in.”
The nonprofit serves families across Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and Baltimore in Maryland, along with D.C. and Virginia. So What Else supports 40,000 families each week with food, diapers, clothing and baby formula, Joe said.
Joe said WIC sometimes refers families directly to them for assistance, underscoring how government programs and nonprofits work hand in hand to meet basic needs.
“If that funding is cut, it’s going to put a lot more pressure and stress on these families,” she said. “The more they worry about providing basic necessities … the harder it is for them to have the mental strength to keep up.”
Maryland’s Department of Health said Gov. Wes Moore’s administration is committed to keeping major federal programs such as WIC operational, assuming the state will be reimbursed for eligible expenses. Virginia’s Department of Health said its WIC program is continuing normal operations for now and is closely monitoring the situation.
D.C.’s Department of Health said in a statement to WTOP that the city’s WIC program will “continue to operate as normal” and program participants are encouraged to use their benefits and schedule appointments.
Joe said So What Else hasn’t yet finalized plans for a potential surge in demand, but internal conversations are underway — including possibly raising the diaper limit and coordinating with the D.C. Diaper Bank.
“Anybody who comes to our warehouse will be served,” she said. “I urge (lawmakers) to go in person to some of these food banks and diaper banks, and really see the impact that those decisions make, because it really is so catastrophic for a lot of these families.”
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A federal judge in San Francisco could rule Monday on an emergency request from unions representing government employees, seeking to block immediate layoffs threatened by the White House amid a government shutdown.
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A federal judge in San Francisco could rule Monday on an emergency request from unions representing government employees, seeking to block immediate layoffs threatened by the White House amid a government shutdown.
The White House senior economic adviser Kevin Hassett told CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday that layoffs could begin as early as Monday, “if the president decides that the negotiations are absolutely going nowhere.”
Saturday, unions representing federal workers filed a motion for a temporary restraining order, asking Judge Vince Chhabria of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to block President Donald Trump’s administration from taking immediate action.
Last week, the court received a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
The temporary restraining order request follows the AFGE and AFSCME suit.
The unions’ lawsuit focuses on a memo the White House budget office sent to agency leaders in late September to prepare for large-scale firings if the federal government shut down.
The memo from OMB said agencies should consider a reduction in force for federal programs whose funding would lapse next week, are not otherwise funded and are “not consistent with the President’s priorities.”
President Donald Trump has said on social media that he and budget director Russell Vought would determine “which of the many Democrat Agencies” would be cut.
The unions argue the White House doesn’t have the legal authority to permanently shed workers during a lapse in appropriations, and that after the shutdown, furloughed employees who worked without paychecks would receive back pay.
As of Monday morning, Chhabria’s docket doesn’t reflect that the case has been scheduled for argument Monday.
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The impacts of the government shutdown vary for military service members and their families.
The impacts of the government shutdown vary for military service members and their families.
Active duty troops are still being paid. However, if the government shutdown stretches until Oct. 15, the paychecks those service members are expecting would be held up.
For military families, that’s causing anxiety, according to Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO and board president of Blue Star Families, an organization that works to connect military families with civilian communities.
Roth-Douquet told WTOP her organization is conducting a survey of military families due to release next week. She said one military spouse reported her family already lives paycheck to paycheck.
“We know from research that fewer than one in three military families have $3,000 in savings. So that means, you miss a paycheck and already, you don’t have the money to cover your family’s needs: the mortgage, the rent, the food bill, the day care,” Roth-Douquet said.
Financial stresses for military families isn’t just an economic issue, Roth-Douquet said.
“From our perspective, that’s not just one family’s hardship, it’s a national security liability. Because we need our military to be able to focus on their mission and not whether they’re going into default on their bills,” she said.
“You can get emergency help, food and child care information, service branch-specific resources, also help for mental health and well-being,” she said.
Jim Marszalek, assistant executive director at Disabled American Veterans in D.C., said the Veterans Affairs receives advance appropriations, “which essentially guarantees health care and benefits” are funded a year in advance.
“So that means benefit checks will continue, that means that health care appointments will continue as well,” Marszalek said.
There are a number of services for disabled veterans that are suspended during the shutdown, including transition assistance programs for veterans leaving military service.
“So any service member who’s being discharged at this time may miss out on that while on active duty,” Marszalek said.
He added Disabled American Veterans’ transition service offices can still be contacted for assistance.
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A University of Virginia professor uncovers the hidden, long-term economic impacts that come with a government shutdown.
There are obvious economic impacts that come with a government shutdown. Everything from local businesses to the travel industry face uncertainty amid the lapse in funding.
But what about the less obvious, long-term economic impacts? That’s what Christoph Herpfer, assistant professor of finance at University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, is trying to make clear in a recent report.
“Underneath the surface, there’s a much bigger thing going on that costs the government and the taxpayer, by extension, a lot more money in the long run than these initial, immediate consequences,” Herpfer said.
The government often relies on federal employees being intrinsically motivated by the belief a job with the federal government is stable and predictable, according to Herpfer.
“The shutdown kind of destroys both of these ideas,” Herpfer said. “What we find is that after the shutdown is over, the employees go back to their desks, they do their job, and they fire up LinkedIn, and look for a new job. And within about six to 12 months, you have a massive outflow of talent and human capital out of the government.”
According to the report, Herpfer found the likelihood that furloughed employees leave their job within one year of the shutdown is one-third higher than employees who were not furloughed. That’s something, he said, that translates into tens of thousands of highly qualified workers leaving the government for the private sector.
Herpfer was also able to quantify the shock to federal employees’ morale, finding the shock felt by workers furloughed during a shutdown is equivalent to as if their salaries were cut by 10%.
He said these were the same underlying mechanisms in place during the federal shutdown in 2018. But, this time, our region is especially vulnerable.
Government cutbacks from earlier this year eliminated 18,000 federal jobs. In addition to that, the D.C. region has seen a recent decline of 8,500 jobs in professional and business services and a sluggish tourism sector.
But, Herpfer said, it’s possible federal cuts from earlier this year could actually mean we see less furloughed employees leave after the shutdown ends.
“Because everybody who was on the fence, everybody who was kind of unhappy in the first place, they took the buyout way back in April and May. So maybe the people who are left are the true believers that really want to stick it out, and this time, there won’t be this exodus of people,” Herpfer said.
“On the other hand, it could be that a lot of these people are on the edge already, and they’re kind of tired from the actions of the last year, which could mean that this could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, and even more people leave the government,” he added.
Herpfer emphasized that at the end of the day, the government shutdown is a bipartisan issue. He said even if you consider the government bloated, the way to cut down is not a shutdown or pushing employees out.
“These permanent federal employees will be replaced by employees in the so-called ‘shadow government’ by outside contractors,” Herpfer said. “And what we find is that the cost for these outside contractors actually is two-and-a-half times as high as the savings and payroll from the federal employees who quit.”
Herpfer aims for his research to support bipartisan efforts running through both the House and the Senate to replace shutdowns with a mechanism that will automatically continue funding the government if leaders cannot come to a stopgap resolution.
“While this is often played up a lot by the media as a short-term story, the long-term consequences are hidden, and they’re much worse than the short-term consequences,” Herpfer said. “We all benefit from an efficient and competent administration.”
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Federal workers checking their finances to see how they’ll fare if the government shutdown drags on may find themselves fighting gut-wrenching anxiety.
Federal workers checking their finances to see how they’ll fare if the government shutdown drags on may find themselves fighting gut-wrenching anxiety.
And Kathleen Borgueta, a former federal employee, knows exactly how that feels.
She lost her job at the U.S. Agency for International Development in January, and had to scramble to deal with a host of new expenses as the mother of a newborn son.
“I would make sure you have all of your HR forms saved,” Borgueta said, adding that federal workers that are currently being furloughed should make sure the documents are easily accessible.
Borgueta founded Pivoting Parents, which works to help former federal workers make the transition to new careers.
She also said federal workers should be familiar with their own benefits, especially if they find themselves out of a job.
“I know countless people who didn’t get the amounts they thought they were going to get for vacation payouts and things like that,” Borgueta said.
Don’t hesitate to contact your landlord or mortgage company to let them know you are experiencing interruption in pay, she said.
Reach out to utility companies — many in the D.C. area have posted notifications that indicate customers impacted by the shutdown can get help with payment options.
“Verizon, my internet, was willing to work with me when I told them that I was a displaced worker,” Borgueta said.
As a new mom, Borgueta was facing medical bills, and advised those in a similar situation to inquire about payment options and whether you can get those bills reduced.
“It is well worth negotiating — talking to a real person and asking about payment plans,” she said.
Aside from fiscal fitness, Borgueta advised furloughed federal workers to tend to their mental health.
“I’ve been through government shutdowns. Sometimes they’re short, sometimes they’re long,” she said. “Make sure that you have the supports that you need to take care of yourself and to take care of your family.”
Resist the urge to withdraw and shoulder your burdens on your own, she said.
“I would really recommend leaning on in-person networks — people you do know who are also going through these experiences — and not just doomscrolling,” she said. “Ask for help.”
Borgueta said she leaned heavily on in-person communities, and said the D.C. region has a wide range of resources, from career coaching to accessing certification for in-demand skills.
Filing for unemployment benefits: Nuts and bolts
Michele Evermore, senior fellow at the National Academy of Social Insurance, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, told WTOP her advice for former federal workers when applying for unemployment insurance.
“Be prepared to provide the last 18 months in pay stubs plus your SF8 form and your SF50 form,” she said.
But she said furloughed workers shouldn’t panic if they can’t access those forms.
“You can file an affidavit confirming what your wages were, but it’s just a little more time consuming than a regular unemployment insurance claim,” Evermore said.
Evermore said unemployment benefits will not cover a furloughed workers’ living expenses. Weekly benefits range from $440 a week in D.C. to $378 a week in Virginia. In Maryland, weekly payments are as high as $430.
“That’s not a lot of income, but it’s better than zero,” Evermore said.
After filing for unemployment, Evermore said, expect to wait.
“It will take a while because, in general, timeliness means you get paid within two to three weeks,” she said.
One thing that anyone receiving unemployment benefits should realize is that those benefits will be taxed.
“States will give you the option of withholding now or paying later. I would really encourage people to just withhold now and make sure you’re not stuck with an unexpected tax bill next year,” she said.
One last bit of advice, said Evermore: keep your unemployment benefits password.
“In some states, if you don’t keep your password for the unemployment insurance system and you get logged out, you’ll have to actually call and get mailed a password. So make sure you keep that someplace safe,” she said.
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When the government shuts down, certain limitations are placed on D.C.’s courts. Here’s a list of what to know about court operations.
When the government shuts down, certain limitations are placed on D.C.’s courts. Here’s a list of what to know about court operations:
Litigation
According to a contingency plan posted to the U.S. Department of Justice’s website, criminal litigation will continue without interruption. That’s because criminal litigation is considered an activity essential to the safety of human life and the protection of property.
Alternatively, civil litigation will be postponed “to the extent that this can be done without compromising to a significant degree the safety of human life or the protection of property,” the plan states. Under this rule, litigators must make a request to the courts that active cases be postponed until funding becomes available. The court has the power to deny those requests.
Receipt of summonses, pleadings and motions by mail may also be delayed during the shutdown.
Immigration
Due to President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency citing the threat to the national security and economy of the U.S. caused by illegal immigration, staff with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review are listed in the DOJ’s contingency plan as excepted from furloughs during the shutdown. According to the DOJ, “EOIR currently has a backlog approaching four million cases which would be greatly exacerbated during a shutdown absent excepted activities.”
Executive Office for Immigration Review court staff include administrative oversight and support staff, who are needed to process immigration cases and appeals involving detained respondents
According to the American Immigration Council, immigrant application interviews, naturalization ceremonies, biometrics processing and similar parts of the legal immigration system should remain unchanged during a shutdown. That’s because U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is almost entirely funded by fees paid by immigrants, U.S. citizens and employers paying for applications.
Marriage
A message on the D.C. Courts website states that the issuing of marriage licenses and performing marriage ceremonies will cease during the lapse, but staff will continue to issue certified copies of vital records, including marriage certificates.
During the last government shutdown, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the “Let Our Vows Endure Emergency Act of 2019” or the LOVE act, a bill introduced by the D.C. Council that gave the mayor authority to issue marriage licenses and authorize officiants. That act has since expired, but in an email to WTOP, Bowser’s office confirmed she would sign it again if the council passes a similar act during this shutdown.
Jury duty and juvenile probation services
Jury duty is still on! Also, according to the D.C. Courts website, during the government shutdown, all jurors should report to court according to their jurors summons. This is because D.C. Courts will continue case resolution activities in all divisions and in the Family Court of the Superior Court and appeals in the Court of Appeals. Additionally, juvenile probation services provided by the Social Services Division will continue during the shutdown.
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Fairfax County, Virginia, is home to one of the largest numbers of federal workers in the country, with about 80,000 federal civil servants residing there, according to the county.
Fairfax County, Virginia, is home to one of the largest numbers of federal workers in the country, with about 80,000 federal civil servants residing there, according to the county.
And as the government shutdown wears on, many of those government employees may need to lean on services provided by the county.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay joined WTOP’s Anne Kramer and Shawn Anderson on Thursday to talk about the local impact of the shutdown and what the county is doing to mitigate it.
Read and listen to the full conversation below.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay joined WTOP’s Anne Kramer and Shawn Anderson to talk about the government shutdown’s impact on Fairfax County.
The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.
Anne Kramer:
We’re only two days into this shutdown. But what kind of impact could this have on Fairfax County, or is it already having on the county?
Jeff McKay:
Well, the actions that are happening in Washington, D.C., have had a profound effect on Fairfax County for the better part of this last year, which is really concerning, because that’s the backdrop under which this shutdown comes at us, and so we’re very concerned. And I think the real impacts for the people who are laid off or furloughed, you know, will depend on how long this shutdown lasts. And so we’re hopeful it doesn’t last long, but we’re planning in the event that it does last long to make sure that we’re prepared and ready to help people.
Shawn Anderson:
Can you give us an idea of how many people in Fairfax County, who live in Fairfax County, work for either the federal government or contractors connected to the government, and how they’re affected?
Jeff McKay:
Well, we know there are upward of 80,000 federal employees that live in Fairfax County, and that does not count the contractors, which we believe is another 40,000 to 50,000. And so you’re talking about a lot of people here impacted. And I had met yesterday with a number of the contractors who are very concerned. And you know, the longer this lasts, the more likely they are to lay off employees. And remember, these are contractors that have already had to lay off employees because of the DOGE cuts that are happening as well.
Anne Kramer:
You mentioned chairman that the county is preparing in case this does stretch into a certain amount of time, or last several days. We’re already seeing some things where it might go into next week because of the timing of everything.
What kind of preparations and what kind of services do you look at to say we’re here to help, or we need to be ready for this?
Jeff McKay:
Well there’s a number of things. We have a coordinated services planning line that we set up during COVID to deal with emergency help for people who are having trouble with food insecurity or paying their rent, utilities. If they’re having trouble with their SNAP, TANF or WIC benefits, or they’re just struggling to pay their bills, they should be calling the coordinated services planning line in the county so that we can link them up either with a county resource, or help them with a federal problem, or hook them up with a nonprofit in our community that provides that assistance.
The second thing that we’re doing is we’re looking at our own programs and making sure that for children in School Age Child Care after school, if they can’t pay their SACC bills, we want to work with them on a payment plan. Car tax bills are coming due if people can’t pay their car taxes or real estate tax bills, we want them to call the Department of Tax Administration, who will work out a payment plan for them that recognizes this unfortunate situation we’re in.
So we want to be a partner with the community here. I think my No. 1 concern is protecting the residents of Fairfax County. That doesn’t mean we’re not angry as heck that this is happening, and we find it completely irresponsible. But as mentioned earlier, there’s little I can do at the federal level. What we’re going to do at the local level is help as many people that need our help as possible.
Shawn Anderson:
You mentioned anger. What other kinds of feelings are you getting from your constituents in Fairfax County about not just what’s going on right now with the shutdown, but how the last eight or nine months have been going here?
Jeff McKay:
People are very scared. You know, I’ve talked to so many highly skilled professional federal workers who have spent their career as patriots in public service who are being treated poorly or who have lost their jobs altogether. And so I think this is a Commonwealth of Virginia problem, not just a Fairfax problem, because, of course, if our economy suffers, the rest of the state is affected.
They rely on us. Almost half the GDP in Virginia is created in Northern Virginia. And so when Northern Virginia’s economy is suffering, the rest of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s economy is going to be suffering. But there’s real fear. There’s anger among our county employees and in the business community. There’s just real frustration over how unpredictable this is.
I mean, if you’re a business person, how do you long-term plan for how many employees you need for a potential federal contract? Or how do you look at expanding your restaurant if so many people are out of work locally that they’re not eating out anymore? And so the uncertainty that this creates in the private sector is also a huge piece of the story that we’re watching closely.
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Leaders of churches and nonprofits in Prince George’s County, Maryland, said they were ready to offer a wide range of support for furloughed or laid off federal workers on Wednesday.
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When Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy started talking about the Maryland county’s response to the government shutdown, she said the first people her administration called were local utilities to make sure water and electricity would keep running.
Pastor Gerald Folsom of Greater Mount Nebo AME church in Bowie, Maryland, spoke about assistance for federal workers. (WTOP/John Domen)
Pastor Gerald Folsom of Greater Mount Nebo AME church in Bowie, Maryland, spoke about assistance for federal workers. (WTOP/John Domen)
Judging by the number who showed up, the second round of calls she made was to faith leaders.
Leaders of several churches and nonprofits were on hand in Largo on Wednesday, and all of them said they were ready to offer a wide range of support for furloughed or laid off federal workers who might need help in the days and weeks to come — regardless of how faithful they may or may not be.
“We’re bracing for what is going to be a tsunami in our community,” said Bishop Joel Peebles of City of Praise Family Ministries in Landover.
As the White House threatens to terminate more employees, Peebles said, “It’s going to fall at the feet of the churches, our community leaders, to be inventive to try to find ways to help our community.”
Next week, his church is planning a big event that focuses on entrepreneurship. It’ll include help with job hunting and reskilling, but also mortgage counseling and education about artificial intelligence and Bitcoin.
“We’re going to give you an opportunity to expand your life,” Peebles said. “But most of all, we’re going to give you an opportunity to build it so that if the government shuts down, if the community shuts down, your house doesn’t shut down.”
A lot of the services are already offered year-round anyway, but the county wanted to highlight them to federal workers who might not have needed to utilize them before, or even knew they were available.
Among those who spoke was Jacob’s Ladder Youth Foundation Executive Director Jarriel Jordan, who said his group provided nearly 400,000 meals to more than 43,000 households in the county last year. Jordan said they team up with other nonprofits, restaurants and food providers already, and that his group was available now if help is needed.
“I was a federal employee and retired now, and so I’ve been through these shutdowns,” said Pastor Gerald Folsom of Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church in Bowie.
His church already helps provide food and housing assistance in parts of the county. Folsom said they’re looking at expanding those offerings in more parts of Prince George’s County, and that churches around the region can expect to see more people in the pews, and more people looking for help in the weeks ahead.
“The first place people will come before they come to the government is their household of faith,” Folsom said.
“We have a food pantry that’s open five days a week from 9 to 4,” said Adenia Bradley, CEO of Mission of Love Charities in Capitol Heights.
The group also offers physical and mental health clinics three days a week, as well as food and rental assistance.
Folsom noted that willingness to help, and to listen, isn’t just limited to those who already attend those churches. And it’s not limited to those who practice their faith regularly either.
“If you’re there, come on, come out. We have our arms open,” he said. “You don’t even have to believe, but you do need food. You do need to get your children clothed. You do need to keep your family together.”
He also said this was the time for the faith community around the D.C. region to come together.
“We’re calling for the mosques, the temples, the synagogues, all of us come together,” Folsom said. “Because this is not about what faith we are. This is about the entire faith community coming together to do something good.”
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U.S. Capitol Police watch over an area to be used by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., and top Republicans in Congress for a news conference on the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Gov. Wes Moore and other Democratic leaders in Maryland vowed to do what they could to help federal workers hurt by the government shutdown.
Federal workers and government contractors – we want to hear from you. With the recent job cuts, what work is no longer getting done at agencies? What programs were you working on that have been cut? Send us a voicemail through the WTOP News app, available on Apple or Android. Click the “Feedback” button in the app’s navigation bar.
State and local leaders in Maryland wasted no time in holding news conferences on Wednesday morning, just hours after the government shutdown began.
Democrats in the state capital cast blame on Republicans while vowing to do what they could to help federal workers who would be hurt by a long, drawn out shutdown.
The day began with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, other state leaders, and some of the Democratic members of Congress gathered in the State House. The governor called the moment a dark hour, and said he had three priorities for the state during the shutdown.
“First, I’ve directed state agencies to employ contingency plans that will help to make sure that federal programs can continue to operate in our state for now,” Moore said. “We will ensure that state employees supported with federal funding continue to get paid for as long as possible.”
Families will continue to receive benefits from federal programs administered by the state, including Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF.
“We will also provide greater flexibility to Head Start programs and ensure that veterans maintain access to essential resources,” Moore said. “But I do want to be very clear, the longer this unnecessary federal government shutdown goes on, the harder it is for us to keep services going.”
Other priorities mentioned by the governor were the shielding of federal workers from evictions, foreclosures and utility shutoffs, if the shutdown drags on.
“I sent letters to the state judiciary and our state utility companies reminding them of their statutory legal protections for federal, state and local government employees who are not receiving a paycheck or are at risk of eviction or foreclosure,” Moore said.
He also said the state would expand emergency assistance programs for federal workers. That includes making federal workers eligible for unemployment benefits during the shutdown, with the promise that they would repay the money once they go back to work.
“We should not be here right now, Maryland,” Moore said. “And here’s the harsh reality, the longer this unnecessary shutdown lasts, the more likely we are to see serious damage in our state.”
He specifically cited delays to big infrastructure projects and delays in pay for military families as major impacts of the shutdown.
Those who gathered in Annapolis were quick to blame congressional Republicans, arguing that their unwillingness to negotiate over Medicaid cuts and premium subsidies for those who get health care from the Affordable Care Act meant the onus was on them.
But Republicans have argued that, like Democrats in the past, they’re not willing to entertain policy negotiations until a continuing resolution passes and allows the federal government to open.
‘It’s really about people’
In Largo, the tone laid out by leaders in Prince George’s County was a little less partisan. County Executive Aisha Braveboy, along with 10 of the 11 members of the county council, vowed to make all resources possible available to residents who might need them.
“The shutdown isn’t just about politics. It’s really about people, the needs of people that may go unmet,” Braveboy said.
“The first folks we call, believe it or not, were the utilities, because we wanted to ensure that residents had services during this shutdown,” she added. “And every single major utility responded and said, ‘We are with you. We are not going to shut people’s utilities off during this shutdown.’”
Braveboy also said county residents shouldn’t hesitate to contact the state’s 211 hotline, which also provides food, housing and utility assistance. And anyone dealing with anxiety because of the shutdown is encouraged to utilize the 988 mental health hotline.
“If you just need to talk to someone, don’t be embarrassed. This is a tough time,” she said. “You didn’t ask for this. You’re just doing your jobs as federal workers, and then all of this uncertainty can cause a lot of mental harm.”
Members of the county’s religious community also gathered in Largo, promising they were ready to lend a hand to anyone who needs help, regardless of their faith. The county also created a full list of available resources to help residents who might need assistance during the shutdown.
“We did not want this day to happen, but we also know that we can’t live with our eyes closed,” Braveboy said.
Only at the end of her speech did she hint at her support for congressional Democrats during the shutdown.
“My job today isn’t necessarily to point fingers, it’s really to open my arms, along with my colleagues here at the council, to say, ‘We hear you, we care about you, we love you, we want you to be OK,’” she said. “And so they can have the discussions on Capitol Hill about the politics. Today, it’s about the service.”
‘This is about dignity’
Meanwhile in Annapolis, state treasurer Dereck Davis was perhaps the most cynical about the situation. He specifically said the situation unfolding on Wednesday will be avoided at all costs next year.
“Now, we won’t have it next year, because … it will be one month before the election, so somehow we will manage to get a budget done and on time, because their families will be impacted,” Davis said of members of Congress. “But now it’s our families.”
He expressed frustration that federal dysfunction is impacting residents who don’t have any power. He also lamented that the only conversations anyone is having is over who to blame, not how to resolve it, and he said elected representatives are getting away with behavior that no one would tolerate from their own children.
“I know my state is home to thousands of federal workers and employees, as well as countless contractors and small businesses whose livelihoods are tied directly to the operation of the federal government. For them, this is not a game or silly power grab for them,” Davis said.
He said the shutdown impacts everything from mortgage and college tuition payments to everyday household expenses not being met.
“This is about dignity, fairness and basic decency,” he added. “This is the ask: Rise above partisan conflict, learn the definition of compromise, fulfill your obligations and get the government open and working as expeditiously as possible.”
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WASHINGTON — Plunged into a government shutdown, the U.S. is confronting a fresh cycle of uncertainty after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline.
Roughly 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed, some potentially fired by the Trump administration. Many offices will be shuttered, perhaps permanently, as Trump vows to “do things that are irreversible, that are bad” as retribution. His deportation agenda is expected to run full speed ahead, while education, environmental and other services sputter. The economic fallout is expected to ripple nationwide.
“We don’t want it to shut down,” Trump said at the White House before the midnight deadline.
But the president, who met privately with congressional leadership this week, appeared unable to negotiate any deal between Democrats and Republicans to prevent that outcome.
This is the third time Trump has presided over a federal funding lapse, the first since his return to the White House this year, in a remarkable record that underscores the polarizing divide over budget priorities and a political climate that rewards hardline positions rather than more traditional compromises.
Plenty of blame being thrown around
The Democrats picked this fight, which was unusual for the party that prefers to keep government running, but their voters are eager to challenge the president’s second-term agenda. Democrats are demanding funding for health care subsidies that are expiring for millions of people under the Affordable Care Act, spiking the costs of insurance premiums nationwide.
Republicans have refused to negotiate for now and have encouraged Trump to steer clear of any talks. After the White House meeting, the president posted a cartoonish fake video mocking the Democratic leadership that was widely viewed as unserious and racist.
What neither side has devised is an easy offramp to prevent what could become a protracted closure. The ramifications are certain to spread beyond the political arena, upending the lives of Americans who rely on the government for benefit payments, work contracts and the various services being thrown into turmoil.
“What the government spends money on is a demonstration of our country’s priorities,” said Rachel Snyderman, a former White House budget official who is the managing director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a think tank in Washington.
Shutdowns, she said, “only inflict economic cost, fear and confusion across the country.”
Economic fallout expected to ripple nationwide
An economic jolt could be felt in a matter of days. The government is expected Friday to produce its monthly jobs report, which may or may not be delivered.
While the financial markets have generally “shrugged” during past shutdowns, according to a Goldman Sachs analysis, this one could be different partly because there are no signs of broader negotiations.
“There are also few good analogies to this week’s potential shutdown,” the analysis said.
Across the government, preparations have been underway. Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, headed by Russ Vought, directed agencies to execute plans for not just furloughs, as are typical during a federal funding lapse, but mass firings of federal workers. It’s part of the Trump administration’s mission, including its Department of Government Efficiency, to shrink the federal government.
What’s staying open and shutting down
The Medicare and Medicaid health care programs are expected to continue, though staffing shortages could mean delays for some services. The Pentagon would still function. And most employees will stay on the job at the Department of Homeland Security.
But Trump has warned that the administration could focus on programs that are important to Democrats, “cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like.”
As agencies sort out which workers are essential, or not, Smithsonian museums are expected to stay open at least until Monday. A group of former national park superintendents urged the Trump administration to close the parks to visitors, arguing that poorly staffed parks in a shutdown are a danger to the public and put park resources at risk.
No easy exit as health care costs soar
Ahead of Wednesday’s start of the fiscal year, House Republicans had approved a temporary funding bill, over opposition from Democrats, to keep government running into mid-November while broader negotiations continue.
But that bill has failed repeatedly in the Senate, including late Tuesday. It takes a 60-vote threshold for approval, which requires cooperation between the two parties. A Democratic bill also failed. With a 53-47 GOP majority, Democrats are leveraging their votes to demand negotiation.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said Republicans are happy to discuss the health care issue with Democrats – but not as part of talks to keep the government open. More votes are expected Wednesday.
The standoff is a political test for Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who has drawn scorn from a restive base of left-flank voters pushing the party to hold firm in its demands for health care funding.
“Americans are hurting with higher costs,” Schumer said after the failed vote Tuesday.
House Speaker Mike Johnson sent lawmakers home nearly two weeks ago after having passed the GOP bill, blaming Democrats for the shutdown.
“They want to fight Trump,” Johnson said Tuesday on CNBC. “A lot of good people are going to be hurt because of this.”
Trump, during his meeting with the congressional leaders, expressed surprise at the scope of the rising costs of health care, but Democrats left with no path toward talks.
During Trump’s first term, the nation endured its longest-ever shutdown, 35 days, over his demands for funds Congress refused to provide to build his promised U.S.-Mexico border wall.
In 2013, the government shut down for 16 days during the Obama presidency over GOP demands to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Other closures date back decades.
___
Associated Press writers Matt Brown, Joey Cappelletti, Will Weissert, Fatima Hussein and other AP reporters nationwide contributed to this report.
With a government shutdown just hours away, one of the sticking points between Republicans and Democrats involves health care, specifically whether to extend premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
With a government shutdown just hours away, one of the key sticking points between Republicans and Democrats involves health care, specifically whether to extend premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
The debate centers on enhanced tax credits that help millions of Americans afford insurance through ACA marketplaces. These subsidies are currently scheduled to expire at the end of 2025, but Democrats are pushing for action now to avoid disruptions during the upcoming open enrollment period.
“Twenty-two million people across the country get their coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces,” said Anne Reid, policy director of the Funders Forum on Accountable Health at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University.
“The vast majority of those folks have some level of subsidization of their coverage, which is tied to their income.”
Reid warns that without an extension, millions could lose coverage or face unaffordable premiums.
The credits were expanded in recent years to raise income thresholds, allowing more Americans to qualify for help.
“The credits were enhanced in the sense that a higher minimum income was set so more people could qualify to receive some relief toward these premiums,” Reid said.
Reid previously served as a senior congressional staffer, where she contributed to health workforce policy during the development of the Affordable Care Act.
Democrats want the extension included in the continuing resolution needed to keep the government open. Reid said they view it as a must-pass provision.
“Democrats are arguing that we need to handle this in must-pass legislation, which at the moment is the appropriations bill.”
They also want to reverse earlier Medicaid cuts that could result in more than 10 million people losing coverage.
But Republicans argue the funding bill should be a “clean” continuing resolution, focused solely on keeping the government running.
“Let’s just keep the government going on current fiscal year levels through the middle of November, to give us some time to work things out and negotiate a longer-term package,” Reid said, summarizing the GOP position.
University of Maryland finance professor David Kass said Democrats are pushing to extend the expanded benefits into 2026, but Republicans want to debate the issue separately from the stopgap funding measure.
“Fewer Americans would be able to purchase health insurance” if the premium help isn’t available as open enrollment begins, Kass said.
Reid said the timing is critical, not just for consumers, but for insurers who need clarity to set rates.
“Days and weeks matter in terms of being able to rightsize the premium levels.”
The potential shutdown could also hit the D.C. region particularly hard, given its large federal workforce.
“Job security and financial security would very acutely be felt in the D.C. region, given our demographics and who all comprises the federal workforce,” Reid said.
With open enrollment approaching and budget negotiations stalled, Reid said the lack of clarity could leave consumers in limbo and millions of Americans at risk of losing affordable health coverage.
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