As the US government shutdown nears its one-week mark, the DC metropolitan area stands to face even more economic pain, especially as President Donald Trump threatens to withhold backpay from furloughed workers and fire thousands more employees. The region is already reeling from months of cuts by the administration: The area’s unemployment rate is at a four-year high and investment in the region has declined this year. Local businesses are also struggling with the decline in foot traffic from federal workers.

With little sign yet of a resolution to the shutdown, DC-area leaders are preparing for an economic realignment. Lawmakers are looking for more ways to diversify the economy beyond the federal government, Jarrell Dillard and Kriston Capps report. Today on CityLab: The Federal Government Shutdown Adds to DC’s Economic Woes.

— Arvelisse Bonilla Ramos

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