what does the government shutdown affect

A government shutdown affects numerous aspects of government operations and services. Key effects include furloughing of about 40% of the federal workforce (around 800,000 workers) who do not get paid until the shutdown ends, leading to financial hardship for those employees. Essential services like the military, Social Security, Medicare, and law enforcement continue but often with delayed salaries. Federal operations such as parks, museums, and certain research activities close or slow down. Travel is significantly impacted with possible delays at airports due to reduced air traffic controllers and TSA staff working without pay. Economic growth slows, with estimates that each week of shutdown reduces U.S. GDP by about 0.1% to 0.2%. The shutdown also delays the release of vital government economic data, complicating financial market decisions. Public health and safety inspections, visa and passport processing, and some veteran services are curtailed or delayed. Longer-term economic effects are generally limited if the shutdown is short but costs rise with the shutdown length and potential job cuts may follow.