the next day, scaife couldn't log on to her work devices. >> i felt disappeared, right?as made invisible too. >> reporter: we rode with scaife as she drove to the office. >> i've got my kids' pictures. >> you leave it there thinking you'll get it back. >> that it will be there on monday. >> reporter: she was allowed 15 minutes to clean out her desk. >> it just felt really demeaning to be treated like that. >> reporter: scaife had been the breadwinner in her family. how do you talk to your kids about this? >> it was so hard to tell them things like, you know, we've made summer plans for these camps. and you know, i can't afford that. >> reporter: it feels like work was a big part of your identity. >> i feel like i am my best mom when i have this other part of me that helps me to feel engaged with the world. i don't know how i'll find something new that gives me that same joy. >> reporter: a feeling now looming for hundreds of thousands of federal workers. for "eye on america," i'm caitlin huey-burns in silver spring, maryland. >> maurice: in tomorrow's "eye on america," t