There are a whole bunch of key government functions that carry on during a shutdown, including anything related to national security, public safety, or programs written into permanent law (like Social Security).
Here's a partial list:
Any employee who conducts "essential activities to the extent that they protect life and property." So, for example: Air traffic control stays open. So does all emergency medical care, border patrol, federal prisons, most law enforcement, emergency and disaster assistance, overseeing the banking system, operating the power grid, and guarding federal property.
Ha! Yeah, no kidding. No rants from this guy...We all just need to sit back and accept the fact that all of us have to take a bite out of this big sh!t sandwich! =)
They don't pay the Border Patrol to protect our country but clearly are paying for their security.
"The United States Capitol is in lockdown, the Associated Press reports. Shots were reportedly fired outside the Capitol Thursday afternoon. A shooter is reportedly in custody.