N.M. —

The government shutdown, now 20 hours in, has resulted from the president and Congress failing to reach a funding agreement on Tuesday, affecting federal employees across New Mexico.

The Department of Workforce Solutions reports that there are over 20,000 government employees in the state, and some may need to consider filing for unemployment benefits.

According to federal government estimates, there are about 22,000 federal workers in New Mexico, including many essential personnel and military personnel, so fewer are expected to be affected by furloughs or layoffs.

Whether a federal employee is furloughed or laid off depends on their status as an essential worker. Essential workers, such as health care employees, law enforcement, and TSA screeners, will continue working through

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