Jennifer Ludden

Jennifer Ludden, NPR News.

Until the moment you see them, something can happen.

But we are happy.

Early this year, Stephanie Rogers and her two daughters moved in with her mom.

It was to save money and also a hedge against mass layoffs and the chance of another shutdown.

Rogers works for the FDA and is a chapter president of the National Treasury Employees Union.

She remembers the 2018 shutdown that dragged out 35 days, so this time she made a painful decision.

She says the FDA is her dream job, but she has no idea if she'll get back pay or even still have a job whenever the shutdown ends.

Jennifer Ludden, NPR News.