California stands to feel some of the biggest impacts from the nation’s partial government shutdown. Outside of Washington, D.C., the Golden State has the largest number of federal workers in the country – nearly 150,000, according to data from the Congressional Research Service.

“It’s surreal,” said Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D), who represents most of Contra Costa County and part of Alameda County. “I’ve had multiple conversations with federal employees here in the Bay Area who are stressed and don’t know whether they can pay their mortgage because they will go without pay when they’re furloughed.”

With Congress still in a heated deadlock over the nation’s spending bill, it remains unclear when the federal government will reopen. 

Democrats are fighting to extend subsidies that were first

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