Once your fed-boss puts your name on an ‘essentials’ list...you have to show up and work.
I got into this mess back in 2011 while a GS employee in DC. We were preparing for one of Obama’s shutdown exercises. I figured fine, I’d take my cellphone and go off to Atlantic City for a week, and just chill out. Then my boss stepped into the mess, and put my name on a essentials list, and I had to show up at the office during the brief showdown.
I knew guys who were going to repaint their house or renovate during the period...same deal, they were put on an essentials list to show up.
If you had worked for a corporation, the Feds would have come after them if you didn’t get paid on time for working.
But the government can make you work even if you can’t get paid.