>> lnxwalt@microca.st:

“During the shutdown during the sequester a few years ago, I was able to continue working. As far as I remember, my pay was a few days later than normal, but still before the official payday. We had a fifty-mile limit, so I couldn't make my normal support trips to offices three hours away (meaning some of their tech issues remained unresolved until a budget was signed).”

Stafford Act money is close to a permanent appropriation so you don't get caught like I do. Agencies funded by user fees like the Defense Finance and Accounting Service won't get caught and Social Security Administration is part of "mandatory spending" which means they have a permanent appropriation so they won't go anywhere. This is never a total, utter systems crash.

In my original post I was missing the word "not" in front of the word "statesmen". This situation can be changed to be avoided. None of the people in DC have the courage to do it, though.