Reply #2: Some observations on a shutdown...

[Hangingon]

I used to be a govt. manager. Shutdowns happen occasionally and each time there has been a slightly different instruction.

First, employees show up on Monday to do an orderly agency close down - usually a half day. The manager is usually getting the information just as it needs to be implemented and well behind the rumor mill.

Essential personnel are required to keep plant operating a minimum level and to perform essential services - perhaps to serve court requests (remember this is an executive funding lapse and does not impact legislative and judicial).

Essential employees are often happy because they get paid - non-essential are often unhappy they are sent home. An employee cannot be allowed to volunteer to stay and work (yeah some do). If you "suffer and permit" this, you are subject to anti-deficiency provisions. Employees cannot take leave - leave is a pay status and stops with the appropriation lapse. Yep, folks on sick leave in the hospital are not in pay status. Non appropriated funds operations stop if they are housed on appropriated buildings.

Everyone is unhappy about lapse of services. Think govt. doesn't do any thing? Shut it down and see the reactions.

Then the crisis is solved. In the past, the lost pay hes been made up in the new funding. Essential employees are unhappy because they had to work while non-essential are smug. They had a holiday.

There is a backlog of work. The Post Office didn't close. The USPS is a govt. corporation.

Remember, the Fiscal (not Physical) year used to be July 1 thru June 30. It was changed so continuing resolutions would not be necessary and govt. closures would not happen.