Shutdown fight fuels anger and uncertainty far from Washington, D.C.

A government shutdown with no end in sight is starting to take its toll on middle America, the mayors of four cities say.

A government shutdown with no end in sight is starting to take its toll on middle America, the mayors of four cities say.

In interviews, the mayors of Kansas City, Missouri; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Minneapolis; and Cleveland told NBC News they’re hearing from their residents about the fear, economic insecurity and sheer anger over the chaos wrought by a standstill in the nation’s capital.

“What folks in D.C. don’t understand is what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck,” said Paige Cognetti, the mayor of Scranton. “There are so many families here in Scranton that if their paycheck is in any way impacted by this federal shutdown, they are going to have to choose between rent and child care, child care and food.”

The mayors, all Democrats, as is the case in many major cities, say their residents are asking questions about health care and whether their Social Security checks will still arrive. Some want to know about housing vouchers or SNAP food benefits.

The tensions are rising as the federal government shutdown entered its 17th day Friday. The logjam has already meant scores of federal employees aren’t working, while some remain working but without paychecks.