Sandra Jones' first job out of college was her dream gig -- a public affairs position at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston that she couldn't have been more thrilled about starting Jan. 7. But about two weeks before her start date, the federal government shutdown. And just like that, the excitement of her new job turned to dread. She was starting a life in Houston, a thousand miles away from her home in Nebraska, without a job to go to or, more importantly, a paycheck. "I feel like, as a young person, I'm helpless," said Jones, 24, who graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha in December. "Johnson has a good network of people to help out but it's not ideal." FRUSTRATING: Workers at NASA's Johnson Space Center brace for missing paycheck Friday Jones was among more than 50 people protesting the shutdown Tuesday outside Johnson. They held signs denouncing the government's closure — and those responsible for it — which incited enthusiastic honking from passersby that became so loud people had to shout to be heard. The number of protesters Tuesday doesn't come close to the number of people impacted by the shutdown. About 94 percent of the 3,055 federal employees at the Houston center have been out of work since Dec. 22, when the government was shuttered as President Donald Trump held firm on his demand that Congress fund a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Johnson is home to the nation's astronaut corps, where human space flight research and training take place. It also is home to the International Space Station's mission operations and the Orion program. About 200 federal employees still working at Johnson are there primarily to ensure the astronauts aboard the International Space Station stay alive. And they're not getting paid. IMPENDING EXODUS? Experts worry government shutdowns will drive NASA employees to the private sector People, organizations and even restaurants have been stepping in to help furloughed workers where they can. A NASA engineer started a GoFundMe page — that had raised $3,560 as of Tuesday afternoon — to help cover peoples' bills. The Johnson Space Center Federal Credit Union is offering zero interest loans to those impacted. And several restaurants in Houston — D'Amico's Italian Market Cafe in Rice Village, Bistro Provence in the Energy Corridor, Ouisie's Table near River Oaks and the Rainbow Lodge on White Oak Bayou — are offering free meals. On the federal level, U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, filed a bill Tuesday that would allow federal workers and contractors to take funds from their retirement without penalization. The measure still must be approved by Congress. "Hardworking federal employees and contractors at federal facilities like Johnson Space Center shouldn't suffer because the federal government can't do its job," Olson said in a statement. "Families of federal employees should not become casualties of partisan politics in Washington. This simple adjustment will allow them to access funds to provide financial stability during a stressful period they have no control over." While most people driving by Tuesday showed support for the protesters, not everyone was thrilled about their presence or message. As the demonstrators chanted about democracy and reopening the government — pumping fists full of PayDay candy bars for emphasis — drivers more than once slowed down, shouting "get a job" and "secure our border." But protesters, like Paromita Mitra, held strong. A month ago, the 27-year-old uprooted her entire life in Mississippi to take a job at Johnson as an engineer working on space suits. She's only received two paychecks. Her third would have come last Friday — if the government hadn't shutdown. "It's stressful," Mitra said of the financial burden that's been placed on her over the past month. Mitra had hoped she could apply for the zero percent interest loans being offered during the shutdown by the JSC Federal Credit Union. But she didn't sign up for an account in time, she said. "I'm living off credit cards and trying to be as frugal as possible," she said Still, Mitra wouldn't consider leaving Johnson, where she's dreamed of working since childhood. But it certainly stings, she said, especially when she thinks about the jobs she turned down just two months ago that were offering double the salary. Steve Candler feels differently, however. Candler, who is in his 60s, has worked at Johnson for nearly 26 years. The day the shutdown began he started sprucing up his LinkedIn profile. "I still want to work here," said Candler, who works in facilities operations. "But I expected to have a job when I signed on and it makes me question working for the government." Candler said he was able to secure a loan from the credit union — but not before his bank account dropped to $14 on Saturday. "My reserves are running out," he said. "All we want is our pay day." Alex Stuckey writes about NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey. NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.<doc-sep>HOUSTON, TX -- Employees from NASA and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will protest against the government shutdown Tuesday morning outside the Johnson Space Center. The shutdown has become the longest in American history at 25 days and counting, CNN reported. The shutdown has caused havoc at airports around the country, where TSA wait times at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International airport were nearly 90 minutes Monday, CNN added.<doc-sep>Union employees at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston are expected on Tuesday to protest the partial government shutdown that has kept them out of work for more than three weeks. The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, a regional member of the AFL-CIO, is organizing government employees to protest at noon outside the gates of the Johnson Space Center, The Houston Chronicle reported. "Furloughed and unpaid federal employees will rally to protest the continuing shutdown and resulting furloughs that are financially hurting 800,000 federal employees and families," the group said in a news release. ADVERTISEMENT Most of the 3,055 people who work at NASA’s Houston center as well as 16,700 NASA employees nationwide do not know when they will go back to work. The partial government shutdown was triggered on Dec. 22 after a standoff over a spending bill. President Trump Donald TrumpTrump lashes out after grand jury seated for New York criminal probe Schumer tees up vote on Jan. 6 commission bill Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission MORE has requested $5.7 billion in congressional funding to build his long-desired wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Democrats refuse to dedicate money to a border wall. The Johnson Space Center is home to the nation’s astronaut corps, the Chronicle noted. It is where astronauts are trained for space flight research, International Space Station (ISS) mission operations and the Orion program. There are roughly 200 federal employees still working at Johnson to ensure the safety of the people onboard the ISS. Space Center Houston, the official visitor center at Johnson, is owned and operated by a separate nonprofit and is not closed during the shutdown, according to a press release from the Manned Space Flight Education Foundation. Labor leader Paul Shearon told Hill.TV earlier this week the number of “highly sought after” NASA employees could be tempted to move to private sector as the shutdown continues. "For our people, for our engineers, our scientists, some of the best scientists and engineers in the country, their interest is performing their work," Shearon said. "This whole political facade that is being put up is simply encumbering their ability to get their job." He also warned that the shutdown is making NASA less appealing for young workers. "If you're a young person coming out of college today, and you've got maybe an advanced degree in engineering or science, and you take a look and you say wait a second, how could it possibly be that NASA scientists are not working, and they're at home not getting paid? That's not what I went to school for," he told Hill.TV’s Buck Sexton and Krystal Ball. "My love of science is far greater than my love for my employer." "So I think it starts to get a little tricky attracting young workers," he said.<doc-sep>HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- On day 25 of the government shutdown, federal workers rallied outside NASA's Johnson Space Center Tuesday. They called for an end to the shutdown.The group of more than 60 people said they just want to return to work and get paid for their time. "We just want to get back to work. I feel like a pawn in this situation. We're dragged down with the whole argument. Yes. No. The wall money. Immigration. We feel like pawns," said NASA employee Sylvia Hanagriff. "We should be separated. Let us go back to work while they discuss and hash that out. "The government shutdown is now the longest in American history.<doc-sep>
UPDATE AT 9:30 A.M.: The protest is being held just outside the gates of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, which is located at 2101 NASA Pkwy. Employees at NASA's Johnson Space Center who have been out of work for more than three weeks because of the federal government shutdown are expected to protest Tuesday. "Furloughed and unpaid federal employees will rally to protest the continuing shutdown and resulting furloughs that are financially hurting 800,000 federal employees and families," a news release from the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO stated. FRUSTRATING: Workers at NASA's Johnson Space Center brace for missing paycheck Friday About 94 percent of the 3,055 federal employees at the Houston center haven't been able to work since Dec. 22, when the government was shuttered as President Donald Trump held firm on his demand that Congress fund a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. The Houston center is home to the nation's astronaut corps, where human space flight research and training take place. It also is home to the International Space Station's mission operations and the Orion program. The about 200 federal employees still working at Johnson are there primarily to ensure the astronauts aboard the International Space Station stay alive. IMPENDING EXODUS? Experts worry government shutdowns will drive NASA employees to the private sector The protest -- which comes just four days after federal workers missed their first paycheck Friday -- will take place at 12 p.m. Tuesday just outside the gates of Johnson Space Center at 2101 NASA Pkwy. Other federal employees are expected to protest as well. Alex Stuckey writes about NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.