We are talking about a government that shut down the Amber Alert system (though reopened it after public outrage over the matter.). I guess they feel an effort to save an abducted child's life is not essential (they lie and say they didn't. But they did and I have a picture of it). Safe to say they consider most of what goes through the FDA is not essential either. Hence, the huge cut in staff. 

They also threatened to jail clergy that minister to military during the shutdown. Refused admission to Normandy for US citizens, prohibited a man from scattering his wife's ashes at Skyline Drive at Shenandoah National Park (her last request...was a special place for the two) and all sorts of other ridiculous crap.