That's actually a big part of why the juge ruled that he must stay legally dead. If he's "resurrected," then the family had to repay the dead benefits that they had received.
Only federal employees. Hardly their fault though, they're just a pawn in this political game.
The definition of "essential" is important here. Scientists at the CDC who are furloughed are doing important work, but they're deemed "non-essential," whereas pet projects like the Presidential golf course at Andrews and the gym for House of Representative members are deemed "essential."
The shutdown is indeed a political game, but the charge that Obama perpetrated it is not sticking. A recent poll by NBC News (liberal bias, yes) and The Wall Street Journal (no liberal bias here, though) showed that most Americans blame the Republicans in the House for the shutdown.
The definition of "essential" is important here. Scientists at the CDC who are furloughed are doing important work, but they're deemed "non-essential," whereas pet projects like the Presidential golf course at Andrews and the gym for House of Representative members are deemed "essential."