A shutdown means furloughed federal employees would not be available to help prepare Trump's transition landing teams, and the thousands of his incoming staffers, for their new roles. Furloughed employees wouldn't be allowed to respond to calls or emails either.

Trump and his team are already in the “danger zone” on transition and inauguration planning because they opted to use private emails and devices, rejected federal cybersecurity support, and are working out of Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida club, said Ann O’Leary, who led Hillary Clinton’s 2016 transition preparations.