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Federal Workers Express Uncertainty During Government Shutdown
After hundreds of thousands of federal workers were furloughed during the government shutdown, some took to social media to document their lives and show how they are coping. Without knowing how long the shutdown will last, some workers are concerned about how they will sustain themselves in the meantime.
“We’re in a government shutdown.” “I am a full-time government worker.” “We are furloughed. “I work at NASA. I am an engineer there. I do a lot of work that involves quality and safety, so making sure that any hardware is safe and, of course, that our people are being safe. “t was honestly really sad. I love my job. It’s easy to joke about. Well, OK, I have a few days off where I get to be home, but then you get sent home and it doesn’t feel so great.” “Welcome to a day in the life of a furloughed government employee. This is my outfit of the day. This video does not do justice to the view I’m seeing of Denver. The reason why I decided to post the vlogs of what I do while I’m on furlough is to shed a positive light on a time of uncertainty. It’s honestly kind of difficult to shop when you don’t know when your next paycheck is going to come. I’ve also been journaling — journaling, going to the gym. I’ve been watching like movies from the ’90s to give myself a little bit of positivity.” “It can bring a little bit of stress, especially having somebody to feed in a single-parent household since I’m not being paid. And if this extends longer then what I think it will, I’m definitely going to lean into some resources, into my savings.” “I’ve been working with Bo and —” “We’re just looking for creative opportunities to still meet those needs, but have less financial cost. So I am bartering a haircut with a neighbor. I recently found out that they have a background in cosmetology and offer the skill.” “For a lot of us that really enjoy our jobs and that find fulfillment in it, it is a big gut blow to not be able to do what we want to do, to not feel productive. Even if we are retroactively paid, we’re not getting paid right now. That doesn’t mean that our mortgage gets paid or that our groceries get paid. So it’s still a stressful time for us.”
After hundreds of thousands of federal workers were furloughed during the government shutdown, some took to social media to document their lives and show how they are coping. Without knowing how long the shutdown will last, some workers are concerned about how they will sustain themselves in the meantime.
By Ang Li
October 7, 2025
