BALTIMORE (WJZ) — As of Friday, 800,000 federal workers in Maryland and around the country are no longer getting paid as the shutdown over a border wall with Mexico drags on.
Eighteen of those workers held a roundtable discussion in Howard County with Maryland's senators.
Freda McDonald suffers from a degenerative neuromuscular condition and worries about paying her insurance premiums.
NASA's Tryshanda Moton said she's worried about closing on her home purchase.
"They don't think about that," she said.
They also heard from a federal law enforcement officer who worries about putting his life on the line while he can't put food on the table.
Many workers—like TSA screeners—are forced to stay on the job without pay, and at least two unions are suing claiming that is illegal.
Senator Cardin noted his fellow senators approved back pay for the workers once the government re-opens, but there's no guarantee the House will do the same.
He also said there's confusion from the White House.
In Howard County, where County Executive Calvin Ball estimates one in every ten members of the workforce is impacted by the shutdown, library fines are on hold along with water service suspensions.
The county is also expanding meals for students.
"We stand with the people of Howard County," Ball said.
Van Hollen said the FDA is no longer able to do food safety inspections putting Americans' food supply at risk.
He also added the EPA is no longer able to do its inspections of some of the biggest polluters in the country, endangering Americans' health.