@hyeungsf@platypusbreeder @JStein_WaPo @washingtonpost Contractors are not federal employees. They still have bills to pay, no income until the shutdown is over, and generally no back pay expected, unless some are deemed "essential" (but only a very small number).
@K_BellePat@MattGertz Essential contractors would probably be paid after the shutdown concludes. However that's a very small percentage of contractors. Many of them are facing an unknown duration of no work/no income.
@ansonmount This is the first school year my 16-yr-old daughter has *not* gotten sick in September. Already vaccinated, she's planning on wearing a mask, at least the first semester, even if not mandated