Second-Longest US Government Shutdown Causes First Missed Paychecks for 1.4 Million Federal Workers

The ongoing government shutdown, now in its 24th day, has caused significant financial hardship for approximately 1.4 million federal employees, with half furloughed and the other half working without pay. Many federal workers, including Department of Defense employees, have turned to food banks in the Washington, D.C. area to cope with missed paychecks, leading to record demand at these facilities. Despite the hardship, lawmakers recently voted against a measure that would have allowed essential workers to continue receiving pay during the shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has also declined to use emergency funds to support food assistance programs during this period, exacerbating challenges for needy families. Additionally, staffing shortages, particularly among air traffic controllers, have dramatically increased flight delays, rising from 5% pre-shutdown to 53% during the shutdown, with controllers facing immense stress and some taking second jobs to manage financially. The shutdown continues with no clear resolution, as political disputes persist between Democrats and Republicans over federal funding.