ATLANTA — The ongoing federal shutdown is forcing newly furloughed workers to find new ways to earn money.

But Vi Le has already been living that reality for months.

Le spent eight years researching violence prevention as a behavioral scientist at the CDC. She expected to retire there until her job was eliminated in a reduction in force earlier this year.

"It’s heartbreaking and anxiety-inducing because we spent our lives, our careers training for this," Le said.

New direction blossoms

Like many others, Le is struggling to find a new job to match her unique expertise. So she is now hoping to make her side hustle a full-time business.

"Luckily I have a hobby: I am a florist, so now I’m going to transition and build that business and do more events," she said.

Her business, The Flora

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