Anonymous wrote:The start of the DMV's Great Depression...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/d-c-area-is-feeling-toll-of-federal-spending-cuts-these-charts-show-how/ar-AA1JRObu?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=6890d25a18734144a31306a1b30b723e&ei=18

The Washington region’s economy is starting to wobble, with the disproportionate impacts of federal budget cuts compared to the rest of the country becoming harder to ignore.

From surging unemployment claims to shrinking contractor work to a pullback in local consumer spending, signs of strain are emerging across key sectors that once helped prop up the region. Amid concerns about slowing national economic growth, the Trump administration’s overhaul of the federal workforce, including the elimination of thousands of federal jobs, is being acutely felt in a national capital region that was already struggling to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

1. Unemployment claims on the rise
In May, D.C.’s unemployment rate was 5.9 percent — the highest in more than three years.

The number of federal workers turning to unemployment insurance is climbing steadily, with claims rising 64 percent between February and June — from 1,064 to 1,747. That surge is starting to show up in the city’s bottom line: In June alone, D.C. paid out more than $2.5 million in federal civilian jobless benefits, a sharp jump from earlier in the spring.

Maryland saw a similar spike, with payments nearly doubling since April. In Virginia’s Fairfax County, unemployment has reached levels not seen since mid-2021.

And there’s still another shoe to drop.

The federal government is paying more than 154,000 people nationwide not to work as part of the Trump administration’s deferred resignation program. Terminated federal workers have also described lengthy delays in accessing paperwork necessary to file for unemployment. Calls and emails to former bosses and human resources officials have gone unanswered, some say. The bureaucratic morass, ongoing legal battles, and deferred resignation plan — which incentivized federal workers to quit but still be paid through Sept. 30 — means unemployment data is probably not yet capturing the scale of the workforce cuts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Life in 2025 is very normal in my McLean neighborhood, very similar to last year.

Things seem normal on the surface in my N Arlington neighborhood. But I know several people who have been RIF’d, took DRP, or lost contracts.

I don’t think we’re feeling it yet because a) people are still getting DRP payments or severance (some even just retired early and won’t look for another job) and b) a lot of people have savings / homes with low interest rates, so they will cut discretionary spending and stay in their house as long as they can. Also many have spouses who earn enough they can coast on one salary for a while, they just may need to postpone reno projects or pull kids out of expensive camps.

I do think those who can weather this will bounce back in the long term.

I’m more worried about the handful of people I know who are dual feds and really can’t afford to lose 2 jobs. Or the people around the DC area who were stretched to begin with.

Yet again the wealthy will be fine and the working families reliant on their paychecks to string housing and childcare together will take the brunt. This administration is such a scam.

Anonymous wrote:People can learn coding, right?

Anonymous wrote:It’s going to be bad everywhere real soon, for a change DC is just the bellwether

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Life in 2025 is very normal in my McLean neighborhood, very similar to last year.

You must not get out much.

NP here. Also in McLean. Life also seems similar.

Well next door in Arlington unemployment is up 55%

https://www.arlnow.com/2025/08/06/arlington-unemployment-rate-increases-again-up-55-year-over-year/

Anonymous wrote:Life in 2025 is very normal in my McLean neighborhood, very similar to last year.

Anonymous wrote:It’s going to be bad everywhere real soon, for a change DC is just the bellwether

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Life in 2025 is very normal in my McLean neighborhood, very similar to last year.

You must not get out much.

NP here. Also in McLean. Life also seems similar.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Life in 2025 is very normal in my McLean neighborhood, very similar to last year.

You must not get out much.

Anonymous wrote:The start of the DMV's Great Depression...

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I hope people understand this is just a taste. If you don't think so, look at the difference between revenues and expenditures. This isn't going to last. Get out now if you can.


You might want to ask Trump why he is decreasing taxes given what a bad idea it is.


The majority of Congress (i.e. the Republicans) all voted for the "Big Beautiful Bill" and its 3 trillion dollar increase in national debt. Which is why I'm diversifying my assets to have more non-US holdings. The time is coming for when the American house of cards will fall. Big fiscal deficits+ volatile leaders who don't respect institutions, laws or economic principles is a recipe for disaster.

And how do you think your non-US holdings are going to fare when the US fails?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
I hope people understand this is just a taste. If you don't think so, look at the difference between revenues and expenditures. This isn't going to last. Get out now if you can.


You might want to ask Trump why he is decreasing taxes given what a bad idea it is.


The majority of Congress (i.e. the Republicans) all voted for the "Big Beautiful Bill" and its 3 trillion dollar increase in national debt. Which is why I'm diversifying my assets to have more non-US holdings. The time is coming for when the American house of cards will fall. Big fiscal deficits+ volatile leaders who don't respect institutions, laws or economic principles is a recipe for disaster.