When the federal government shuts down, it means that funding legislation to finance government operations has not been passed by Congress before the fiscal year deadline. This causes the government to curtail or stop many non- essential activities and services. Non-essential federal employees are typically furloughed (placed on temporary unpaid leave), while essential employees, who protect life and property (such as military personnel, air traffic controllers, FBI agents), continue working but may not receive pay until the government reopens. Some programs funded by mandatory spending, like Social Security and Medicare, continue running. Shutdowns often result in closure of national parks, museums, delays in various government services, economic disruption, and halted paychecks for many federal workers until funding is restored. This situation persists until Congress passes and the President signs a funding bill to resume government operations.
