Shutdown compounds a year of pain for federal contractors, employees

Sentinel

As the U.S. government shutdown reaches its fifth week and nears record length, Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-Va.) highlighted its compounding impact on federal workers and contractors amid a challenging year under the Trump administration. Cancellations of $20 billion in contracts—including $2.3 billion in his Fairfax County district—combined with initiatives like the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), agency job cuts, and forced retirements have fostered market uncertainty. Workers are missing paychecks, while contractors urge use of vacation time to avoid pay gaps, though such measures are temporary. Walkinshaw noted that while the shutdown is short-term, broader downsizing policies will persist. Senate negotiations continue, but the House remains sidelined until Speaker Mike Johnson reconvenes it with 48-hour notice. Potential bipartisan compromises include short-term extensions of Affordable Care Act tax credits and reforms, though trust is low due to prior GOP delays. The shutdown halts progress on security and innovation, but Walkinshaw sees post-reopening opportunities for collaboration on IT modernization and cybersecurity, warning that delays harm U.S. competitiveness against global adversaries.