An interesting question I’ve not discussed in the press is what would happen during an extended government shutdown when it comes to rent payments and utility bills. Could a government agency be evicted from its building by the landlord? The federal government rents a lot of buildings from private landlords. Figuring rental contracts and evictions are regulated under state law it gets even more complicated. I would imagine that under the US Constitution such a case would end up in federal court. Likewise, I could see a utility shutting off power to a government building if utility payments aren’t made.

I’m guessing what would happen first is a bunch of aggrieved landlords and other parties would go to a federal district court and make the argument that the federal government is obligated to pay due Article XIV of the constitution and the court would appoint a special master to review bills that the government is obligated to pay and then pay them regardless of the action of congress and the president. I could also see essential furloughed employees approaching a federal court and making the argument that they are subject to involuntary servitude, especially if they are subject to criminal sanctions for walking off the job during the furlough.