[dragonwriter]

The bureaucratic prep for a potential shutdown (including identification of essential personnel and functions that are exempt) usually happens in advance; if you missed the memo and you aren't exempt, the whole “not being allowed to work” thing will catch you up on the key relevant bits for you right quick.

> In German radio news, the US correspondent explained that the weekend should still be fine, with full effects of the shutdown beginning around Monday with the new week

That's just a way of saying most (but not all) non-essential functions run on a normal workweek, so are effectively mostly “shutdown” on the weekend anyway.