TANGIPAHOA PARISH, La. — Joe Bravata and his wife Ginger from Tickfaw have more time these days to share a cup a coffee.
Joe is one of hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed because of the partial government shutdown over border wall funding.
The Department of Agriculture supervisor told us he can't sleep at night worrying how to pay the bills without a paycheck.
"The bulk of my house income comes from my salary," Bravata said. "You take that away, I still have all those bills that come in every month. They still need to be paid."
The Bravatas are already rethinking their expenses.
"Upcoming surgery, can we afford the copays?" Ginger Bravata said. "Are we going to be able to get into that or is it something that has to wait? Canceling dentists appointments because you still have copays you have to pay. Getting medication, how much is the meds going to cost, we can afford that this week."
President Donald Trump said he was prepared to continue the shutdown for "months or even years" if Congress fails to approve $5.6 billion to build of a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico Border.
WWL-TV asked Rep. Steve Scalise, R-LA, what he would say to people like the Bravatas now expected to miss a paycheck on Friday.
"I don't want anybody to have to go through that type of pain," Scalise said. "What I am saying is the president has made it very clear what is needed to secure our border."
Scalise urged Democrats to work with Republicans and the White House to negotiate a solution to the shutdown.
"I've been involved in these negotiations," Scalise said. "I was in the White House with the president last week negotiating with (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi and (Senate Minority Leader) Chuck Schumer and ultimately they need to come to some sort of agreement."
The Bravata's hope the government shutdown will end sooner then later, but Joe admits this time the furlough feels a little different and he fears government employees like him could be out quite a while.
"It just seems like we've been, as federal employees, we've been betrayed by Washington," Bravata said.
Ginger Bravata says at first they were nervous, now they're scared.
"It's not a political game in my eyes, it's a people game," Ginger Bravata said. "They're using these people to try and win what they want, but meanwhile, what are they supposed to do?"
There could be major consequences if the government is not reopened by Friday.
Millions of Americans who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) -- the nation's food stamp program — could have their assistance disrupted.