A petition organiser in the Northern Marianas says the territory's public servants are relieved to be back at work but many fear what's to come.
About 1,400 workers have had six days off because lawmakers couldn't settle the budget in time for the new financial year.
Tina Sablan's been petitioning lawmakers about the plight of public servants who now face 16 hours in work cuts per pay period and 13 unpaid holidays in order for the government to stay within this year's budget
She says they're now bracing themselves for pay cuts of up to 25 percent.
"I did talk to quite a few families, you know they live paycheck to paycheck. They didn't know how they were going to pay for the utility bills, their car payments. Families are in debt. They didn't know how they were going to pay off their loans for the month."
A petition organiser in the Northern Marianas, Tina Sablan.
