January 20th, 2018 by WCBC Radio
Maryland, more so than most states, will feel the affects of the shutdown, particularly if it is a long one. About 300,000 Maryland residents work for the federal government, comprising about 10 percent of the state’s workforce. While many are deemed essential and will continue to work, others will be furloughed, and when they’ll get their next paycheck is unclear. Additionally, the feds spend about $30.7 billion on procurement in Maryland. Virginia and Maryland are two of the top three states in the number of federal workers living there; California has the most federal employees. According to 2016 government data, Virginia had 136,377 federal employees, while Maryland had 130,402 such workers. Federal contractors also make up a huge portion of the workforce, and whether they can work as normal will vary from agency to agency. State officials say Maryland loses $5 million a day during a federal shutdown. The military, law enforcement, TSA screeners, border patrol agents, and other essential federal employees will continue to work despite the shutdown. However, they won't get paid unless more funding is authorized by Congress, which is what happened in 2013 with the Pay Our Military Act, NBC News notes. Since 1976, the government has shut down 18 times, most recently in 2013, during the Obama administration. The affect will be felt by Americans who have applied for benefits and are waiting for action, as well as by anyone who has applied for a Social Security number or a passport.
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