Blaming the victims? What are you suggesting, that any person considering any job offer, federal or otherwise, should turn it down if there's a possibility that something negative might happen? People get laid off of jobs all the time, there are salary reductions, unexpected transfers, changes in work conditions, demotions, extra duties not covered in the job offer, expectations beyond one's abilities, training deficiencies, etc. I don't see your angle.
I was a Federal employee during the last long shut down in the 1990s. We had, as anyone who can should, enough money saved to see us through a couple of months without pay. The shut down was a gift. I got three weeks off "without pay," but as soon as the spending bill was passed, we got all our back pay. I wish I could be that fortunate again.