Federal employee union leaders say being furloughed or still working, but without pay, has created personal hardships as the government sits largely idle.

North Carolina unemployment benefits could be paid to federal employees impacted by the shutdown. The state is also hiring.

Employees say their out-of-office messages were changed without their consent to include language blaming Democrats for the shutdown.

When the dust eventually settles from the government shutdown, federal workers in North Dakota and the region will try to forge ahead – still surrounded by political fights and public perception challenges.