As the government shutdown continues, federal workers express heightened stress and financial strain, fearing that furloughs could become permanent. Many employees, including Social Security workers and Air Force veterans, share their concerns and frustrations over the impact on their livelihoods. Some workers, who supported Trump, are now disillusioned with his policies, feeling betrayed by what they see as an assault on civil service. Amid these fears, stories of anxious federal employees highlight a desperate need for empathy and solidarity as they navigate this fraught period.