Who the Shutdown Impacts: Daniel’s Story

Daniel Scharpenburg is a furloughed employee of the IRS and first vice president for NTEU (National Treasury Employee’s Union).

“It just feels like some forces in Washington want to be cruel to us on purpose,” he said after a roundtable with U.S. Rep. Sharise Davids (D-Kan). “It feels like we are the bargaining chip in the shutdown.”

The uncertainty of missed paychecks and getting caught in force reduction measures is stressful. Scharpenburg is separated from his wife, so he currently has no income, while raising a 15-year-old son: “There’s nothing to fall back on. It’s just me,” he said.

“I’m really anxious and stressed out all the time because of this situation, and I’m having to adjust my thinking and only think of one bill at a time…(because if I don’t) I’m going to sit in my room and cry,” Scharpenburg said.

Worrying about providing enough food for his son is adding to his stress.

“If you know anything about teenage boys, you know they eat a lot, so it’s going to be hard for me to keep food in the house,” he said. “I am interested in going to Harvesters in the near future. I’m not out of food yet, but if the government doesn’t reopen, that is what’s going to happen to me. I believe there are a lot of people who are going to need assistance.”