Shamara Fielder hit a breaking point as a TSA agent last October during the longest government shutdown in American history.
Though the 35-year-old said she loved serving her country, the toll of the shutdown wore on her.
As the paychecks stopped and travel was disrupted, Fielder found herself filling in for colleagues who didn’t show up for unpaid shifts at Orlando International Airport, canceling her pre-paid vacation and dealing with more frustrated passengers – all while she struggled to keep up with her bills, Fielder told CNN.
She ultimately quit last year around Halloween after nearly two years on the job.
With the current partial shutdown in its fourth week, Fielder warns that missed paychecks and officers calling out could potentially distract overworked agents.
“It leaves us very open to a lot a lot of evil, hateful people who are just waiting on us to slip up,” she said.
Fielder is all too familiar with the importance of staying focused as a TSA agent.
During her two years as an agent, she recalled one incident where she caught a bag with a 9-millimeter gun and 80 rounds of bullets. On another instance, a person attempted to bring drugs and parts for an improvised explosive device through her security line, Fielder said.
CNN has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
“You already have the pressure of … millions of people’s lives in your hand essentially. One bad move, one mistake, can cost someone their life,” Fielder told CNN.