A government shutdown means that the legislative branch has failed to pass key funding bills to authorize and finance government operations. As a result, many federal agencies and programs must cease non-essential activities, furlough non-essential employees, and only retain essential personnel responsible for protecting human life and property. Essential services like air traffic control, emergency medical care, and national security continue to function, but employees in these roles may not be paid until funding resumes. Shutdowns disrupt many public services, delay paychecks for federal workers, and can have economic impacts. They typically occur when Congress does not approve the budget or short-term funding before the fiscal year starts, leading to a funding gap.
In the US specifically, shutdowns have happened multiple times since 1980, with the government legally required to curtail operations during funding lapses due to the Antideficiency Act. Past shutdowns have involved furloughs where employees are paid retroactively once funding is restored. Shutdowns usually impact services like national parks, immigration courts, and routine safety inspections, while programs funded by mandatory spending such as Social Security continue.
Thus, a government shutdown represents a temporary closure of many government functions until lawmakers can agree on funding, causing significant operational and financial disruptions.
