The anxiety level among federal contractors is rising as the government shutdown drags into its fourth week, leaving hundreds of thousands without pay and with no guarantee they’ll be compensated for lost wages.

Unlike federal workers, who likely will receive back pay once funding is restored, most contract employees are not covered by such protections. Many are now draining their savings, applying for unemployment, or looking for temporary work as the political stalemate shows no sign of ending. The Washington Examiner spoke with several federal contractors and small-business owners who were not authorized to speak to the media and feared jeopardizing their employment if identified.

“I work full-time for a large government contracting company, and my team’s contract is with the Department of Transportation,” said a contractor based in Virginia. “We don’t have authorization to work during a shutdown, which means we cannot work and will not get paid for the duration. It’s honestly a really stressful situation, and it feels like we don’t matter as employees.”