Checks the U.S. Government's Official Web Portal for the "Government Shutdown" message: Due to a lapse in funding, the USA.gov website will be available, but not updated

isgovdown.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
#
# file: isgovdown.py
#
# description: checks usa.gov for the "the USA.gov website will be available, but not updated" message
#
# usage: ./isgovdown.py
#
#  or in a crontab:
#  */5 * * * * /path/to/isgovdown.py && mailx -s 5s youremail@address.com
#
 
import re, sys
from urllib import urlopen
page = urlopen("http://usa.gov").read()
if(re.search(b'Due to a lapse in funding, the USA.gov website will be available, but not updated',page)):
    print("Government still down")
    sys.exit(1)
else:
    print ("Government back up")
    sys.exit(0)