Jack Criss Jr., an air traffic control specialist, has been juggling two jobs in light of the recent government shutdown, as he revealed he works for DoorDash to help cover his daughter’s tuition costs. As a single father to his 14-year-old daughter, Criss took to a Town Hall to share his story, highlighting the financial strain the shutdown has imposed on his family.

His story struck a chord, prompting DoorDash to step in with a generous $10,000 donation to support him. Additionally, Chris Cuomo offered to cover the remaining balance of his daughter’s tuition fees, providing a much-needed reprieve for Criss.

Recently, Criss appeared on “Now” to discuss the significant changes this support has brought to his life and the ongoing challenges his colleagues face as the shutdown persists. His experience sheds light on the broader impact the shutdown has had on families across the nation.

He joined ” Now” to share how his life has changed and how he and colleagues are doing as the shutdown continues.

“I’ve been doing decently, better since, with the help of Chris and DoorDash. So I was able to scale back a bit from DoorDash,” Criss said.

“I had a mortgage that went from $2000 to $2800 in one year, and then another one that went up 300. They turned my finances upside down, and then also put my child in private school, because the schools where I live aren’t necessarily the best, so I did that for her, and I knew immediately, once the shutdown occurred, that I had to make immediate extra income.”

Criss said he believes Transport Secretary Sean Duffy “did a good thing” by cutting back on air traffic. He added that young air traffic controllers are struggling as the shutdown continues.

“You can see the despair in their face, the confusion, the distrust,” Criss said.

“People are beginning to feel the pressure, even myself. A couple of weeks after, I took some leave because I was getting anxious with everything going on, trying to figure out the best and next move,” he added.

Criss told Connell McShane that he just wants to see his friends paid and is incredibly grateful for the generosity bestowed upon him since speaking about his situation at ‘s Town Hall.

“Those politicians need to sit down and get a resolution passed, because we need our money. We don’t like working for free. It is not a game. It’s very serious,” he said.