what will a government shutdown affect

A government shutdown affects many aspects of public and economic life. It typically leads to the temporary closure or scaling back of many federal government functions deemed non-essential, while essential services like law enforcement, military, and airport security continue. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees may be furloughed temporarily without pay, although they often receive back pay after the shutdown ends. The shutdown disrupts various public services, including delays in immigration hearings, restricted access to some federal benefits services, and impacts on national parks and museums, which may close or have reduced staffing. Economically, a shutdown usually slows GDP growth by about 0.2 percentage points per week of shutdown, with some losses potentially permanent. It can also delay key economic data releases, dampen consumer and business confidence, and temporarily increase the unemployment rate due to furloughed workers. Small businesses reliant on federal permits, loans, or contracts can also be negatively affected. However, essential federal benefits like Social Security and Medicare generally continue uninterrupted. The longer the shutdown lasts, the more pronounced its effects on both government operations and the economy tend to be.