Politics & Government

Chatter of Government Shutdown Dominates Commute Conversations

Metro passengers voice their opinion on a possible federal government shutdown

As hordes of people boarded Metro trains Friday morning headed into Washington, D.C., the fear of a federal government shutdown dominated conversations.

John Menke, of Burke, boarded the Orange Line Metro at the Dunn Loring-Merrifield station. Menke, a Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation employee, said the looming shutdown wouldn’t affect him. Even though the company he works for falls under the Department of Labor, his office will be open.

“I think it’s silly what they’re doing,” Menke said as he entered the train station concourse. “We’re not going to be affected. I’ll be at work come Monday morning.”

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If the federal government does shut down, more than 800,000 employees will be out of work until a budget is agreed upon. In a taped press conference on the White House’s website from Thursday night, President Barack Obama said a government shutdown could affect the economy further. He also said there are still a few outstanding issues delaying a budget agreement. More than 100,000 federal employees live in either Arlington and Fairfax counties according to a . If there is a government shutdown, tax refunds, Social Security claims, disability claims and passports could delay them from being processed. All national parks would also be closed.

While people wait to find out if the government will shutdown after Friday, Joan Evans, of Falls Church, is making tentative plans to travel to New Jersey to be with her sister-in-law and niece. She said her brother, a U.S. Marine serving abroad, might not have a paycheck to provide for his family.

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“This is really crazy that the government isn’t even thinking of how this affects the families of those serving our country,” Evans said outside the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro station. “My sister-in-law and niece need money for bills and right now our family is planning on how we can provide for them if the government shuts down and my brother’s checks stop coming in.”

David Lee, of Vienna, said he is hopeful a resolution on a budget will come and the shutdown will be averted. He said the U.S. cannot afford another shutdown like the one in 1995. Lee, an accountant, said the shutdown could cripple the nation’s economy.

“Figure public transportation, museums, restaurants and just about everything else people working for the federal government in Washington, D.C., spend money on daily, would see tremendous decreases in daily income for however long a possible shutdown would last,” Lee said. “The country is just starting to pull itself up from a recession and this could hamper any progress.”


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