Group of East Bay women work together to support farmworkers

California stands to feel some of the biggest impacts from the nation’s partial government shutdown. Outside of Washington, D.C., the Golden State has the largest number of federal workers in the country – nearly 150,000, according to data from the Congressional Research Service.

“It’s surreal,” said Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D), who represents most of Contra Costa County and part of Alameda County. “I’ve had multiple conversations with federal employees here in the Bay Area who are stressed and don’t know whether they can pay their mortgage because they will go without pay when they’re furloughed.”

With Congress still in a heated deadlock over the nation’s spending bill, it remains unclear when the federal government will reopen. 

Democrats are fighting to extend subsidies that were first made available during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the price of health insurance for millions of Americans purchasing coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Those tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year, which is why Democrats are pushing to include an extension in the pending appropriations bill before Congress.

While some Republicans have publicly said they are willing to negotiate an extension for those subsidies, they argue those discussions shouldn’t hold up the current spending bill.

“This is not a great way to get a deal – it’s a great way to divide America,” said Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-South Dakota), who said the negotiations “should go on while the government is open.”

Since the tax credits aren’t set to expire until the end of the year, Republicans have argued there is still time to negotiate that issue after the federal government shutdown is lifted.

“Trust is broken,” said DeSaulnier. “How do you negotiate in good faith with somebody who hasn’t done it with you before and has done this horrible damage?”

DeSaulnier warns the current congressional standoff could extend beyond the more than 30 days the nation experienced a partial government shutdown during President Donald Trump’s first term in office.

“I’ll do everything I can to stop that from happening,” DeSaulnier said. “There really isn’t an option until [Republicans] are willing to negotiate in good faith.”

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Source: NBC Bay Area