They are, (once again) playing Budget Battle Theater.

Pretending that they will actually shut the government down……that government will somehow actually shut down, and government workers will somehow starve.

The only things that will shut down are things like parks and museums, and other things that will inconvenience the public, and a bunch of (apparently unneeded) government offices will close.

Everything else will, of course, keep operating, and while those folk not working won’t get paid, others who will keep working will also not be paid.

Until of course, the budget is passed, then everyone will get back pay.

I think anyone whose office can be shut down , whose absence sill not be noticed, just proves that they are not needed….and if your office is shut down, and you don’t need to go into work, then you should not get back pay. No work, no pay.

Remember, last time, the park service shut down places where there are no park rangers or services ever anyway, just to inconvenience people. Near me, the National Lakeshore, all beaches unattended even when the government is funded, were shut down. Scenic outlooks, not attended even when the government is operating, were shut down, closed off,  even though there are never park employees there at any other time.

But at the end of this, it is all a bunch of theater.