In the duration this farce is likely to cover, what do you foresee happening if it was left open? Especially in the case of the grounds around these monuments (Washington, Vietnam, etc).

I'm imagining underground societies secretly coordinating with one another just waiting for the day a shutdown happens so they can deface them some monuments, and letting out a collective "hallelujah! Our time has finally arrived. Let us go do that voodoo that we do so well!!!" when the news came down.

Sounds like the foundation for an absurdist comedy sketch.