“So who pays the price if Congressional Republicans shut down the US government? Such an event—which looks increasingly likely—would inflict immediate pain on millions of Americans while triggering a cascading economic crisis. The roadmap shows that while beginning mildly, the damage would deepen as workers nationwide go without salary, private contractors aren’t paid and consumer uncertainty grows over Washington dysfunction. About 1.3 million active-duty military and another 2 million civilian federal workers won’t receive pay for the duration—even the employees who have to work anyway. While federal workers will automatically get their missed checks once a shutdown ends, contract employees historically don’t. And that’s just the start. —David E. Rovella“
With Liberty and Justice for All