Shutdown updates:

While the news media continues to report that federal employees are working without pay, this is a matter of perception. So far, EVERY federal employee has received ALL the money that they would have gotten if the furloughs had not happened.

Tonight, that changes. The first paychecks affected by the shutdown will go out late tonight/early tomorrow. The furloughed workers that are scheduled to get paid this Friday, about 50% of the total furloughed workers, will get a paycheck that is about 40% of what they expect to receive. The other 50% of furloughed workers received a full paycheck last week, and aren't scheduled to receive another paycheck until next Friday.

Also, this week, piggy bank savings account funds are slowly starting to be depleted, so a slow trickle of additional agencies may start to close their doors.