Everytime it looks like there might be a shutdown, affected agencies are supposed to start planning for it and get all this stuff together ahead of time whether or not the shutdown happens. Takes a couple weeks. Is a real waste of time.
No, historically that's not been true. You'd see slowdowns at the end of the fiscal year as contracts and other things change over or have to be renewed (so one office is busy making the contracts and others may be slowed down waiting for them). But a full on shutdown has been rare.
Most departments, however, do contingency planning so things like this should be available with minimal tailoring for the current situation.
It's been the longest shutdown ever. A short shutdown doesn't usually effect very much because departments have extra cash in the bank. This time it's going on long enough things are actually starting to shutdown.
I must say this is really quite entertaining. Unfortunate how many people are suffering because of it though. Why exactly are government shutdowns a thing?
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do