Federal workers in Madison face uncertainty as government shutdown ends

MADISON (WKOW) – Carl Houtman, a furloughed federal employee, has been spending his days at home due to the ongoing government shutdown. As a US Forest Service employee and union representative, he anticipates challenges returning to work.

Houtman said transitioning back to work will be complicated after being away from the office for more than a month.

"We've been out of the office for so long, and we have lots of collaborators and cooperators and things like that... that now are going to want suddenly their work done," Houtman said.

Some federal employees are still uncertain about when they will be called back to work.

"The agency basically says, you know, watch the news, and once the president signs the bill, then and it seems like the agency is open, then report to work," Houtman s