According to CNN, approximately 1.4 million people employed in the federal sector are affected by the lack of agreement in Congress on government financing. Some of them were sent on forced leave, others work without pay. For this reason, many are forced to turn to food banks.
The food distribution event for federal workers was organized on October 21 by the Capital Area Food Bank in Palmer Park, Maryland. According to CNN, the organizers expected representatives of 150 households to show up, but instead over 370 came. Many had to wait for up to two hours to receive food parcels.
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“I always thought working for the federal government would provide stability, but it doesn't,” said one clerk standing in line. “I thought I would leave food banks for those who have children and need it more. But now… now I have to stand in line myself,” she admitted in an interview with CNN.
“I'm overwhelmed by the queue,” admitted Pastor Oliver Carter of No Limits Outreach Ministries, co-organizer of the event, quoted by CNN. “I didn't think we'd have this many federal employees here,” he added.
The shutdown in the US continues. It is one of the longest
Shutdown in USA it started on October 1 and is already one of the longest in the history of the country. A longer closure took place at the turn of 2018 and 2019 and lasted 35 days.
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), each day of the government shutdown, approximately 750,000 people will be on forced, unpaid leave. federal employees. The total daily cost of their wages is approximately USD 400 million.
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Bank of America analysts estimated that the suspension of government work would reduce US economic growth by 0.1 percentage point. every week of its duration. At the same time, they noted that the impact of such a situation on financial markets had been minimal in the past.
Talks are still ongoing on Capitol Hill about how to resolve the crisis and end it shutdown. Republican Senator Ron Johnson has proposed legislation that would only pay wages to federal workers who continue to perform their duties during the shutdown. Democrats, in turn, demand that all people employed in the federal sector receive the wages they deserve.
