State Workers, Companies Brace For Possible Federal Shutdown

Stakes are high in Maryland, with an outsized share of government work

A compromise brewing in Congress could delay a possible government shutdown until mid-March, but anxiety remains high among federal workers and contractors in Maryland — one of the states most dependent on federal spending.

Because Congress has not yet agreed on a budget for the fiscal year that started five months ago, the government is operating on temporary spending authority — and that runs out on Friday.

Republicans worked on Monday to persuade Democrats to accept a proposal to trim $4 billion over the next two weeks by eliminating programs that President Barack Obama also has targeted. The compromise could postpone a possible shutdown of many government services from Friday to March 18.
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