It seems starkly short-sighted to infer that institutions like the EPA may not be "essential" when the anecdote you're replying to shows that they're stockpilin

It seems starkly short-sighted to infer that institutions like the EPA may not be "essential" when the anecdote you're replying to shows that they're stockpiling waste fuel. I would think such an act is dangerous in several respects. I think that the original commenter is trying to say is that it's possible that their jobs won't be done if their shop has to close. They're already being impacted: their work time is being wasted. That makes the business less profitable and eventually this could affect everyone that works there. Some of the jobs that "need to exist" are not people who work for the government.