Politics & Government

Virginia 'Most Affected' By Federal Government Shutdown

Number of federal employees and contracting dollars, as well as those indirectly affected.

By Beth Lawton

With a high number of residents who are federal employees, veterans and government contractors, Virginia is the state “most affected” by the federal government shutdown, according to a new study from Wallet Hub.

The shutdown of the federal government is in its second week with no end in sight, as President Obama and members of Congress dig in their opposing positions on the federal budget, the debt ceiling and the Affordable Care Act.

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Virginia has the fifth-most federal employees per capita and the second-most federal contracting dollars per capita, the consumer and business financial services site reported.

Wallet Hub analyzed seven topics “in which government inoperability will affect citizens and then [ranked] their relative impact” by state (and the District of Columbia).

Find out what's happening in Burkewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The factors were: federal workers, federal contracting dollars, small business lending, real estate (as a percent of gross state product), social security payments, student loan applications and veterans.

Additional statements from the report:

  • "D.C., Maryland, Alaska, Hawaii, and Virginia have the most federal workers per capita and are thus disproportionately affected by the shutdown’s immediate impact."
  • "D.C., Virginia, Alaska, New Mexico, and Maryland receive the most federal contract money per capita, which means folks in those areas stand to lose out even if they don’t technically work for the federal government."

  • "Alaska, Virginia, Montana, Wyoming, and Maine have the most veterans per capita and would therefore suffer most from a lack of VA funding, which could result from a drawn-out shutdown."

TELL US - Is your family either directly or indirectly affected? Tell us in the comments below.


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