By that definition it is an emergency shutdown and not administrative so RIFs should be off the table.
Right, which is why there is a lapse of appropriations and it is an Emergency Shutdown and not Administrative.
Yes, it does.
From https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/
A shutdown furlough (also called an emergency furlough) occurs when there is a lapse in appropriations, and can occur at the beginning of a fiscal year, if no funds have been appropriated for that year, or upon expiration of a continuing resolution, if a new continuing resolution or appropriations law is not passed. In a shutdown furlough, an affected agency would have to shut down any activities funded by annual appropriations that are not excepted by law. Typically, an agency will have very little to no lead time to plan and implement a shutdown furlough.
No, it happened at the expiration of the Continuing Resolution back in December.
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/guidance-for-shutdown-furloughs.pdf clearly states:
NOTE: Reductions in force (RIF) furlough regulations and SES competitive furlough
requirements are not applicable to emergency shutdown furloughs because the ultimate
duration of an emergency shutdown furlough is unknown at the outset and is dependent
entirely on Congressional action, rather than agency action. The RIF furlough regulations
and SES competitive furlough requirements, on the other hand, contemplate planned,
foreseeable, money-saving furloughs that, at the outset, are planned to exceed 30 days.