how will a government shutdown affect me

A government shutdown will affect individuals by causing disruptions in many federal government services and activities that depend on annual appropriations from Congress. While essential services related to public safety, Social Security, and Medicare payments continue, many employees in federal agencies will be furloughed without pay, and non-essential government programs and inspections may be paused or delayed. This can lead to delays or reduced access to services such as passport processing, immigration hearings, food safety inspections, and national park operations. Federal employees and military personnel may face missed or delayed paychecks, although they generally receive back pay when the shutdown ends. Additionally, programs like SNAP and WIC could see interruptions if a shutdown is prolonged beyond a few weeks, affecting families relying on food assistance benefits. Air travel may experience delays and long security lines due to staff shortages at airports. The U.S. Postal Service and mandatory spending programs like Social Security will continue operating normally during a shutdown.