[jtokoph]

It's more of a shutdown on non critical departments, and lots of times there are still skeleton crews for some of them. For example, the postal service is still running.

Here is a decent article explaining what is still up and running: https://www.npr.org/2018/01/19/578985305/open-or-closed-here...

[toomanybeersies]

The USPS isn't a government department though, it's an independent agency, that generates its own funds separate from the federal budget.

[ryanmarsh]

I had no idea the USPS was a GSE (Government Sponsored Entity) like Fannie Mae (which many believe is a government agency)

[dragonwriter]

It's a shutdown in almost all distribution of funds that consequently includes a prohibition on work by non-essential personnel; “department” in the federal government is a very large organization, and a much higher level of organization than the one at which the non-essential vs. essential distinction is made at.