what does it mean that the us government has shut down

A US government shutdown means that all non-essential government functions and services are temporarily halted because Congress has failed to pass funding legislation approved by the President. During this time, many federal employees are furloughed (placed on unpaid leave), and various government services, such as national parks and processing some benefits, are closed or delayed. However, essential services like national security, air traffic control, the FBI, and Social Security payments continue to operate. The shutdown lasts until Congress reaches a funding agreement to resume normal government operations, at which point furloughed workers typically receive back pay. This shutdown started because of political disagreements, mainly over healthcare funding, between Republicans and Democrats in Congress.