David is one of thousands of workers in Washington suddenly on the brink of unemployment.

He earns more than $80,000 (£59,000) per year but has cut back on spending to save $600 per month.

“I’ve changed where I buy groceries,” says the 35-year-old. “If someone’s making plans to go out for dinner or go out for drinks, I avoid it.”

In preparation for losing his job and potentially leaving the city for good, he recently handed in his notice on his $2,100-per-month rental contract.

He is one of many making radical changes after Donald Trump’s administration took an axe to the US capital’s economy by slashing federal government jobs, funding and grants.

The impact of these cuts has so far been delayed as laid-off employees worked through notice periods and severance packages.

But unemploy

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