CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rep. Alma Adams joined state and local officials Monday to denounce the impact of the ongoing government shutdown on working families, as 7,000 federal employees in her district entered their 41st day without pay.

"This is the 41st day of the government shutdown. That means for 41 days, 7,000 federal employees in my district have gone without pay," Adams said at a news conference attended by community leaders and residents.

The event highlighted growing frustration over federal policies that local officials say are forcing families to make impossible choices.

Rev. John Cleghorn invoked scripture to illustrate the crisis: "The Bible said, 'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.' What he did not say is when I am hungry, it's okay for you to force me to choose

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