RE: I, too have little sympathy for temporarily laid-off “non-essential” employees who will be paid when they return to employment they still have.
What if this shutdown lasts till 2020?
Once upon a time there were furloughs of federal employees who engaged in seasonal work. They were let go to fend for themselves and brought back when times got better. They were not guaranteed a thing other than maybe month-to-month.
Surely there is discussion in OMB about layoffs sometime.
This WILL get interesting before it is over unless Trump does some emergency act which I expect that he will but not until at least 60 days has passed.
30-40% of the could be RIFd by then... a good start!