El Paso family reflects on government shutdown as 2nd shutdown looms

Families of federal employees are hoping lawmakers and the president will reach an agreement on border security, but are already bracing for another shutdown – just in case.

Karla Saenz, wife of a U.S. Border Patrol agent, told ABC-7 the longest shutdown in government history forced them to seek help.

“We called the mortgage, we called the utilities, and insurance. We did. I actually did go to one of the food banks,” said Saenz.

Saenz and her family are just one local family who survived the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

The wife of a well paid federal agent, Saenz says the family was used to going out for dinner.

Last month’s shutdown changed all that. They are now stocking up on food, filing the pantry to capacity.

They are preparing more meals at home. “Now, like, we’re saving. The last check that we got we’re saving,” said Saenz

Saving is key, she says.

In order to survive the shutdown, they dipped into their savings.

She’s hoping lawmakers and the president realize how shutdowns affect the families of federal employees.

“It’s not just the federal workers who go through it, it’s entire families. These people support children, their wives, their husbands, their parents,” Saenz says, adding her family is better prepared to weather another shutdown – if it happens.