In Washington, D.C., the shutdown threat cuts deeper than in any other city, where the federal government is not a distant idea, it is the lifeblood of work, pay, and survival.

With President Donald Trump threatening permanent federal job cuts if Congress does not agree with his authoritarian rule, the region is staring into an economic abyss.

“It’s terrible. You have far more people going for those very specialized jobs than would normally be out there. And a lot of the usual places people turn to in Washington are just not hiring,” Brian Naranjo, a 55-year-old former State Department employee, told reporters.

Since resigning in May under a deferred resignation program promoted by the administration, Naranjo has sent out more than 50 résumés and has yet to find a position.

Jennifer Ma

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