what does it mean that the government shut down

A government shutdown means that the federal government has temporarily ceased all non-essential operations because Congress has failed to pass the necessary funding bills to finance government activities for the new fiscal year. This shutdown freezes non-essential government functions and results in many federal employees being furloughed (placed on unpaid leave). Essential services related to national security, law enforcement, air traffic control, and other critical areas continue to operate during the shutdown. Social security and Medicare payments still go out, but services like national parks close, some government services halt, and routine operations like benefit verifications may stop until funding is restored. Shutdowns happen due to political disagreements over budget priorities, such as healthcare funding or spending cuts, causing a deadlock that leads to the lack of appropriation bills needed to keep the government fully funded and open.