It's been three months since Jonathan Giba moved into temporary housing for homeless veterans inside a hospital for former members of the US military in West Virginia.
He has been waiting for medical and dental consultations after medications he was previously prescribed left him without teeth and unable to walk. Now, with the government shut down, he is preparing to wait even longer.
He calls it political bs. The US Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital where Mr. Giba is staying in Martinsburg, West Virginia, is still providing medical care, but the VA stopped other programs that help veterans find jobs and transition from military life.
The shutdown is a waste of time, and it hurts everyone in the meantime, the Army veteran says.
Martinsburg is an American town particularly fixed to feel the impacts of the US government shutdown.
A city of nearly 20,000 people some 85 miles (136km) outside of Washington DC, federal agencies employ upwards of 3,300 people in the area, including the veterans' hospital, an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) processing facility, and an agricultural assistance office.
This is Trump country, where 67% voted for the president in 2024, and a fierce independence undergirds something of a make-it-work mindset.
Because of the government shutdown, a nearby community event - the Freedom's Run Race Series - changed its route from trails near a federal Civil War battlefield site, but otherwise went on as planned. Harper's Ferry, a national park and nearby tourist draw, has been kept open with state money.
But the political bickering in Washington and perceived lack of concern about everyday Americans are not far from people's minds. And they worry about what's coming as the shutdown drags on.
One veteran, Troy Williams, says politics is hurting average Americans. This isn't a Democrat or Republican issue, he says, this is a why aren't they working on a solution issue.
Air Force veteran Marcellus Brothers is concerned about what's ahead. We're in limbo, it's scary.
Republicans and Democrats have been deadlocked over government funding since it ran out on 1 October, placing more than 700,000 people on unpaid leave and affecting essential services across the nation.
Kelly Allen, the executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy warns, We have more federal government employees than coal miners in West Virginia, and those jobs are well-paying and essential in a state with not a whole lot of good paying jobs. Residents like Tina Hissam see the impact on small businesses, as federal workers refrain from spending during the shutdown.
With many residents dependent on federal jobs and benefits, the ongoing shutdown poses a significant threat to the local economy. As the uncertainty continues, the community remains hopeful for a resolution while bracing for potential hardships.
