It's been over two weeks since the federal government partially shutdown. And with no end in sight, some federal employees fear they won't get paid come Friday.
In Austin, those employees include officers with the Transportation Safety Administration at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA).
"It's beyond embarrassing and disappointing that our government is allowing those who have sworn to protect their country to go through this," Henry Nnorom, president of the local chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees Union, told KVUE.
His chapter represents more than 100 TSA officers in Austin and beyond.
"You don't come to serve your country and expected not to be paid," Nnorom said. "They're feeling let down by the government."
TSA workers fall under the Department of Homeland Security, whose funding expired on Dec. 21. Because they're responsible for people's safety, they're expected to show up to work, even if that means working for free -- for now.
"We're actually even being forced to work overtime with no guarantee of pay. Everybody, as a whole, is pretty disappointed in the system," Leonard Cason, the spokesperson of the local AFGE chapter, said. "They're scared. But, they've been showing up every day. How long that's going to last? I don't think it's going to be long."
Cason is hopeful the government reaches a deal and the TSA can process the paychecks of its thousands of employees before Thursday night, but he doesn't think it'll happen.
"It's pretty obvious it's not going to happen now. But what's really scary is how long is it going to take," he said.
Cason and Nnorom said passengers from all over the country have been very understanding about the shutdown and have even offered to help. They said the best way you can support them right now is by calling your local Congress members and urge them to reach a deal.