Federal cuts have deeply impacted residents of the Washington, DC area, a new survey shows

A new survey has revealed the significant impact federal cuts have had on residents in the Washington, DC area. Sam Trumbull, who once wrote public assistance policy, now relies on public assistance for her family. Amanda Nataro, who lost her job and is hesitant to take personal belongings to her new role, is among those affected.

Nicoletta Barbera and her husband are considering leaving the area due to rising costs and lower salaries. The survey, conducted by Gallup and the Greater Washington Community Foundation, found that many in the DMV region, which includes Maryland and Virginia, are struggling with a bleak job market and rising costs. The District of Columbia, which lost a fifth of the roughly 100,000 jobs in the region, has been particularly impacted.

About two-thirds of D.C. residents reported their households were directly affected by the job cuts, one of the highest percentages in the region. Affluent households with an annual income of $90,000 or more were hit especially hard, with 58% reporting an impact compared to 48% of lower-income households. Trumbull, who earned over $130,000 at the USDA, had to take a deferred resignation and now works part-time, leading to financial difficulties and the need for public assistance.

Even lower-income residents, though less likely to report impacts, still faced hardship. About 14% of DMV residents used social services like food banks or job placement support for the first time in the past year, rising to 25% for households earning less than $90,000. Many residents worry about housing payments and healthcare costs, with roughly 2 in 10 reporting being unable to pay for healthcare at times in the past year.