Say the government actually DOES shut down (right now, I don't see it, but stranger things have happened). How many civil servants are going to be counted as being "essential" (and not subject to furlough) and how many will be considered "non-essential," and therefore subject to furlough? This begs the question, of course, as to just which government employees REALLY are essential, and which ones aren't? And what happens if we managed to get along fine without all those non-essential folks? I'm NOT saying they then should all be let go, because I understand the nuance in the government definition of essential versus non-essential employees, but do we really need all the government employees we have at present? How many have experienced a "RIF" (reduction in force) in the past? Or ended up on what the feds call the "stopper list?" I'm mainly just curious. I'm sure there's some government lawyer here who works in Commerce or the EPA or something who could answer this.
Also, I've heard that something like 800k employees are either essential or that only 800k out of the total government employee workforce would be sent home. Which is it?
Also, I've heard that something like 800k employees are either essential or that only 800k out of the total government employee workforce would be sent home. Which is it?