It may not be a very merry holiday for a lot of government workers, and some of those who won’t be able to do their jobs (or get paid) are positions Donald Trump finds essential to the safety of the country. The New York Times writes:

“With ninety percent of their personnel considered essential, the Department of Homeland Security will be hit the hardest. Nearly 54,000 Customs and Border Protection agents and 42,000 Coast Guard employees are projected to work without pay, and as travelers flood the nation’s airports and train stations, 53,000 T.S.A. agents will keep working, as will air traffic controllers and aviation and railroad safety inspectors.”

Something we referenced back in January when a similar situation was unfolding is worth repeating today:

Non-essential workers are usually furloughed. CNN reports, “In previous shutdowns, everyone who stayed home was paid retroactively after an agreement was reached in Washington.” Guess who keeps getting paid? Members of Congress. Their staffers may not get paid, but their paychecks will continue to roll in.

The President continues to receive full secret service protection as well, as do any other politicians who are considered at risk.

The official statement from the Department of Homeland Security reads:

During a lapse in funding, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may only continue “exempt” activities such as law enforcement and maritime protection.  The Department’s contingency plan outlines procedures for an orderly shutdown of non-exempt functions during a lapse in funding or appropriations.

It’s hard to know though what plan the White House has in place should the government shutdown. Again, back in January, we wrote about the contingency plans from the Office of Budget and Management. Now when we returned to that page, we found it no longer exists. A new search on the site turns up nothing about plans for a potential shutdown. In other words, it is a big unknown. Imagine how those potentially impacted feel about the lack of information, especially those who face working without pay.

Here are some other stories that take a look at what may happen to various jobs and services during a shutdown: