While the 35-day shutdown is temporarily over, the challenges experienced by federal workers are still being felt across the nation and even locally. For many federal workers, missing two pay periods while continuing to pay for essentials like childcare, food, rent, utilities, and other needs has exacerbated existing income struggles. While the gap between paychecks was enough to qualify some for monthly food-stamp benefits, workers in the lowest of pay grades will not receive back pay; this includes private contractors who provide needed services like janitorial and maintenance staff.

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