Federal Workers Brace for Shutdown Chaos as Holiday Travel Looms
As the deadline for Congress to approve a spending package approaches, federal employees across the country are gripped by fear and confusion. More than a dozen workers from 11 agencies told CNN they feel “terrified,” “disoriented,” and anxious about a potential government shutdown that the Trump White House has warned could lead to fast-tracked mass layoffs. The uncertainty extends to critical personnel, including some members of the military, TSA agents, and air traffic controllers—just as the holiday travel rush begins. Bureau of Prisons employees are deemed essential, so they will have to work regardless of whether they are paid. Similarly, many Department of Defense civilians will be “excepted” or deemed essential and required to report to work without pay.nnThe political standoff shows few signs of resolution. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise told ABC News on Wednesday that lawmakers had a “productive” late-night meeting in Speaker Mike Johnson’s office. However, in a joint statement Wednesday afternoon, President Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance called on Congress to “pass a streamlined spending bill that doesn’t give [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer and the Democrats everything they want.” Trump has also warned that the administration could target programs important to Democrats, “cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like.” This rhetoric has only heightened anxiety among the federal workforce.nnAs agencies scramble to determine which workers are essential, the ripple effects are already being felt. Smithsonian museums are expected to stay open at least until Monday, but many other services could grind to a halt. Contract workers, like Bonita Williams at the State Department building in Washington, DC, are also facing uncertainty. “We’re just waiting to see what happens,” Williams told CNN. The looming shutdown threatens not only paychecks but also the delivery of vital government services, from national security to food safety inspections.nnWith the Tuesday night deadline fast approaching, federal employees are left in limbo, unsure whether they will be working without pay or furloughed indefinitely. The holiday season, meant for celebration, has instead become a source of dread for millions of families dependent on government paychecks. As one worker put it, “We’re just pawns in a political game.” The coming days will determine whether Congress can
Shimanta Das 
