$85 billion in government spending cuts. Alone, that number might not mean anything to you. But families right here in Winchester and throughout the Valley will be drastically affected.

Multiple people in Winchester have already been told they will be furloughed. That means being forced to take unpaid leave. And they're sharing this with us on Facebook.

"My husband works really hard (at his government job for the FAA) to make sure that everyone who flies in an airplane is safe," said Alana Graw Burdick. "Now because we have an ineffective Congress, my husband and many other people are told they will be forced to take unpaid leave."

"We are extremely worried as well," said Heather Smith Van Dyke. "We will be losing quite a bit of money."

"I will be furloughed starting April 1st," said Jon Marcy. "Thanks Congress for the opportunity to be unemployed."

Here's why all of this is happening.

"It will have a major impact, particularly in Virginia," said Chairman of the Political Science Program at Shenandoah University Dr. Bill Shendow.

One reason for that is Virginia is one of the states that gets the most amount of money from the federal government.

"Virginia is one of the most prosperous states," said Shendow. "Largely because of all the federal activities."

If Congress doesn't act by March 1st, $85 billion in spending cuts go into effect all at once.

A majority of the Pentagon's 800,000 civilian workers will have to be furloughed. Those employees would lose one day of work each week for up to 22 weeks. That means a loss of about 20 percent of their pay.

It would also mean TSA agents are furloughed. Military personnel would be exempted from the furloughs. 1000 FBI and other law enforcement agents, forced off the job. 70,000 preschoolers dropped from their head start program.

"One of the most important things is the economy," said Shendow. "The economy is starting to look up, but this will be a big slap in the face for the economy and could turn things down."

Shendow says what's going on right now is government by crisis.

"If you think this is government, I don't know where you're getting that notion from," said Shendow. "It's not good government."

There are only eight days to go before those cuts happen. That's if President Obama and Congress can't reach some kind of agreement to stop it.

The President has been making his case to the American people. On Thursday- the White House announced that President Obama will coming to Virginia next week. He's expected to visit a shipbuilding operation in Newport News on Tuesday.

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