what does the government shutdown mean for me

A government shutdown means that many federal government services and operations halt or scale back due to the failure of Congress to pass funding legislation. This affects federal employees who may be furloughed without pay, delays or suspensions of some public services, and interruptions in government programs not classified as essential. Essential services like law enforcement, air traffic control, and Social Security payments generally continue but may experience delays or staffing challenges. For the average person, this can mean slower processing times for government services such as passport applications, disrupted travel due to longer airport security lines, closed national parks, and delays in federal loans or permits for small businesses. Federal workers face financial strain due to missed paychecks, and businesses relying on government contracts or loans may also be impacted.