A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employee at Philadelphia International Airport said that she has to work without pay as the U.S. government shutdown drags on, leaving her and many others in financial crisis. In an interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Rashanda Palmer said she and her colleagues have not received paychecks for more than a month. With the government's "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)" suspended due to funding shortfalls, she now relies on community-based food pantries to feed her family. "(It) feels harder this time because there's not a lot of resources out here. I'm going to food pantries to put food in our refrigerator and freezer. If I was receiving a paycheck, I wouldn't be put into a situation where I'm actually being put into debt," she said. Palmer said she is now struggling to cover rent, utilities, and insurance, as many companies have stopped accepting proof of working without payments to offer payment deferrals. Rising prices, she added, have further worsened the situation. "I don't know a lot of people who can afford a dozen eggs, to be honest, because eggs used to be 69 cents at one time, then they went to 99 cents. Now you go in some stores, they're like 12 dollars and 89 cents. It's a lot. And to not be able to have that as a bare necessity, you can't even cook an egg for a child," she said. Many of her colleagues are in similar plight, according to Palmer. Living without a paycheck, they can't afford daycare for their kids, can't pay for the gas to commute to work, and some even have to skip medication. "This is putting us in situations as government employees that we should never be put in. Disheartening. It's disheartening. It's a lot. And to Washington D.C., everybody's supposed to take in the people they represent. They know what is it exactly. And it's time to stop doing the blame game. Stop doing the blame game, get in the room, and do what you guys need to do," she added. The shutdown, which began on October 1 after Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on a funding bill, has severely impacted the U.S. aviation sector. About 50,000 TSA employees have been working without pay, with many struggling under similar conditions. The video shows: Miami, Florida, USA - Oct 1, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 1. Various of planes, traffic control tower at airport 2. Various of officers at airport Philadelphia, USA - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 3. SOUNDBITE (English) LaShanda Palmer, employee, United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) (ending with shots 4-5): "(It) feels harder this time because there's not a lot of resources out here. I'm going to food pantries to put food in our refrigerator and freezer. If I was receiving a paycheck, I wouldn't be put into a situation where I'm actually being put into debt." Washington D.C., USA - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 4. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) poster Brooklyn, New York City, USA - Nov 4, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 5. Various of people in line outside community-based food pantry, sign reading "Campaign Against Hunger" Philadelphia, USA - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 6. SOUNDBITE (English) LaShanda Palmer, employee, United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA): "I don't know a lot of people that can afford a dozen eggs, to be honest, because eggs used to be 69 cents at one time, then they went to 99 cents. Now you go in some stores they like 12 dollars and 89 cents. It's a lot. And to not be able to have that as a bare necessity, you can't even cook an egg for a child." USA - Feb 19, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 7. Various of customers shopping for eggs; limit signs Philadelphia, USA - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 8. SOUNDBITE (English) LaShanda Palmer, employee, United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) (partially overlaid with shot 9): "This is putting us in situations as government employees that we should never be put in. Disheartening. It's disheartening. It's a lot. And to Washington D.C., everybody's supposed to take in the people they represent. They know what is it exactly. And it's time to stop doing the blame game. Stop doing the blame game, get in the room, and do what you guys need to do." ++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ FILE: Washington D.C., USA - October 2024 (CCTV Video News Agency - No access Chinese mainland) 9. Various of White House ++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ Washington D.C., USA - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 10. Various of Capitol building New York City, USA - October 2024 (CCTV Video News Agency - No access Chinese mainland) 11. Various of street view, traffic [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]