The federal government shutdown is now entering its third week.  Although there are some hopeful signs here in Washington that an agreement that will allow the federal government to reopen will be reached, it is unclear when a deal will be forged. 

This political tug-of-war has left many government contractors in limbo.  Already facing stop-work orders and lost revenue, many government contractors that had hoped short-term, stopgap measures would get them through a brief shutdown are facing the tough employment law realities arising from a protracted government shutdown with no definitive end in sight.