The financial crunch of day 24 of the government shutdown brought a concerning reality for Justin Chen. It was his last paycheck until lawmakers in the nation's capital reach a resolution and fund the government again.

"I don't have a family that I have to take care of, so my stress levels are quite a bit lower than other members of my union," Chen said.

EPA employee also union president

The 37-year-old is an employee of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. He is also the president of Local 1003 of the American Federation of Government Employees.

As a single man, he said he cannot take on the financial risk of a trip to meet family, as he did in Colorado for skiing last February.

"It really depends on how long this goes, and how much I have to shore up my financials to m

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