The US government shutdown: How did MSPs weather the longest federal freeze on record?

Federal shutdowns are not fun for anyone. But with the longest shutdown on record having finally come to a close - albeit possibly temporarily - the scramble is on to get the government back up and running. Government employees affected by the shutdown will be impatient to receive their back pay and are crossing their fingers that another shutdown can be averted. And they're not the only ones; MSPs working in the federal space have suffered both long and short-term effects from the halt...