Yeah, I used to think that too. Here's the difference between now and the last time the furloughs happened: RETIREMENTS.
A whole crapload of them. So many that any furlough would be mitigated by them. Movement would slow or stop for a little while, but it's unlikely that you would end up on the street. Even if it was so bad that they really had to furlough, it wouldn't be a long one.