Story perspectives

Government Shutdown Hits 155,000 Florida Workers Hard

10/11/2025

Center

Federal Workers Struggle

The government shutdown is in its tenth day and is affecting federal workers and military families.
In Florida, about 155,000 federal employees are affected.
Florida's economy costs about $911 million per week.
830 Maryland federal workers have filed for unemployment.
More than 45,000 Maryland residents have accessed state emergency resources.

Left

Pressley Demands Funding

The federal government shutdown threatens the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which serves nearly 7 million women and children.
Nutrition experts warn that without funding, low-income families may lose access to essential food supplies.
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley criticized Republicans for the shutdown, stating it jeopardizes food assistance.
The Trump administration's One Big Beautiful Bill Act has already cut benefits for millions, worsening food insecurity for over 47 million Americans.
Experts call for a bipartisan funding bill to protect these critical programs.

History

Historical Context

The 2013 federal government shutdown, lasting from October 1 to 17, resulted from a budget impasse over the Affordable Care Act, leading to the furlough of approximately 800,000 federal employees and costing the economy an estimated $24 billion. This event underscored ongoing partisan conflicts in Congress, particularly between Republicans and Democrats, and highlighted the vulnerability of essential services like food assistance programs during funding crises.

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Federal Workers Struggle

The government shutdown is in its tenth day and is affecting federal workers and military families.
In Florida, about 155,000 federal employees are affected.
Florida's economy costs about $911 million per week.
830 Maryland federal workers have filed for unemployment.
More than 45,000 Maryland residents have accessed state emergency resources.

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