Let's get some perspective here about the harm a government shut down will cause to federal employees.

1) 85% of federal jobs are already funded, and will be unaffected.

2) The majority of federal employees left work at the close of business earlier today. They will have the weekend off work. Tuesday is a Federal Holiday for Christmas. Since so many employees would request leave on Monday, and the few that showed up would get almost nothing done while running up the electric bill to heat all those buildings, Trump just went ahead and gave Federal employees Monday off work as a Christmas present. So, except for a few working weekend shifts, Federal employees are off work until next Wednesday regardless.

3) Unless you are very bad managing your leave, had some personal events that used up all your leave, or are a new employee, you might be planning to take leave until after January 1st. Using four days of leave gets you 11 consecutive days off work. A good bargain.

4) Most Federal employees get paid every two weeks. For many, the next paycheck is seven days from today.

5) "The government might shut down again?" Yawn. More days off. Might not have to use leave for those four vacation days. "The government always pays me back pay retroactively, right?"

Yes, there are a very, very small number of Federal employees that will be affected, and a few that live paycheck to paycheck will have a moment of anxiety. But, nearly all Federal employees won't care until after Christmas. And most won't care until after New Year's.

Federal employees will have a Very Merry Christmas, while Congressmen are canceling their Holiday plans, and staying at work in Washington, D.C.

5D Chess. LOL.