Part 2/10:
According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, approximately 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed during this shutdown. This figure includes around 32,000 in the Department of Health and Human Services and 335,000 civilian employees within the Department of Defense. It’s crucial to understand that a furlough doesn’t necessarily equate to permanent job loss; it often means temporary leave with potential back pay upon return. However, the underlying issues of efficiency and cost-cutting are driving forces behind discussions of workforce reduction.