As the government shutdown enters its second month, federal workers are facing increasing financial strain with the possibility of missing additional paychecks and growing uncertainty over back pay. Many employees have received renewed furlough notices, this time without guarantees of retroactive pay, prompting some to seek temporary jobs and turn to food banks for assistance. Communities are rallying to support affected workers, but the demand at food banks is rising as SNAP food assistance is set to freeze. Despite some companies and banks offering relief, reports indicate that federal employees are feeling used as pawns in political negotiations, with mounting bills and evictions looming. The prolonged shutdown has marked a record length, exacerbating hardships for over 1.4 million federal workers across the nation.