The American Federation of Government Employees filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, challenging politically charged out-of-office email messages automatically placed on Education Department employees’ accounts during the government shutdown. The messages, blaming Democrats for the shutdown, were alleged to violate employees’ First Amendment and Hatch Act rights by using government staff as political mouthpieces without consent. Meanwhile, air traffic control staffing shortages were exacerbated by the shutdown, leading to operational delays and employee financial strains, with government officials expressing concern over controller well-being and safety. These incidents underscore the tensions and challenges within federal agencies amid political and fiscal instability.