CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) – How much is the government shutdown affecting West Virginia compared to other states? A new ranking says more than most.
A WalletHub study released on Wednesday said that West Virginia is the 7th most impacted state, especially when it comes to federal jobs. Only five states have a higher percentage of federal jobs than West Virginia, according to WalletHub. During the shutdown, many of those workers are furloughed, and most essential employees who are still working during the shutdown are not being paid. And for some workers, the impact may not end with the shutdown since the White House has said that it will use the shutdown as an opportunity to permanently remove some positions.
West Virginia has an estimated 23,000 federal workers, according to the West Virginia Center of Budget & Policy.
West Virginia also has among the highest participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, with an estimated 15% of the state’s population benefitting from the program in 2024. Although SNAP benefits for October were not impacted by the shutdown, if it continues, the benefits for November could be at risk, leaving more than 200,000 food-insecure West Virginians without assistance. Other nutrition assistance programs like WIC (Women, Infants and Children) are also at risk if the shutdown continues.
The ranking also took national park access into account. Since most federal employees are not working, many national parks and museums are closed. However, West Virginia became the first state to reopen its national parks this shutdown after securing a donation agreement. That funding was guaranteed through Oct. 15, and certain national park events like Bridge Day in West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park will continue, according to Gov. Patrick Morrisey. Morrisey has not provided an update on additional funding.
States that are impacted the most by the shutdown, according to the ranking, are Washington, D.C., which has the most federal workers, followed by Hawaii, New Mexico and Alaska, which rely on government aid and federal tourism.
Wednesday marks the 15th day of the shutdown, and although there have been several votes to end it, neither political party has shown signs that they will compromise, as another bill to end the shutdown failed on Tuesday.
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