General Discussion

It would take a special brand of stupid to work for the federal government and think you are not part of the federal workforce.

So I have to assume they work for a contractor for the federal government where the employees are paid by the contracting company but those funds originate with the federal government. (In which case they aren't technically federal workers, but are effectively paid out of the federal budget). Even then, I would think most people who work for Federal government contractors know that and it should be obvious (unless they are really ignorant & oblivious to the real world) that cuts to the federal budget always have a chance to result in those contract arrangements being terminated which means the companies need to find other clients or else go out of business.