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In Martinsburg, West Virginia, the federal shutdown is cutting into daily life. At the VA hospital, Army veteran Jonathan Giba—waiting months for care after medications left him without teeth and unable to walk—now expects longer delays as job and transition programs are halted. Around town, events reroute, a USDA office is closed, and residents fear wider fallout as agencies furlough thousands and more than 700,000 workers go unpaid, with 200,000 working without pay. Under a shade tree, veterans call the stalemate political bs and scary, urging Washington to find a solution.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.