A government shutdown halts or restricts non-essential federal government services and programs due to lack of approved funding. Essential services related to national security, public safety, and emergency medical care continue, but many government workers are furloughed without pay until funding resumes. This results in delays or stoppages in services like food assistance programs, passport and visa processing, inspections by agencies such as the FDA and EPA, and closures of national parks and museums. Federal employees miss paychecks but are typically compensated retroactively when the government reopens. A shutdown can also have long-term negative effects on workforce morale and government efficiency and can cost the economy billions in lost productivity and spending.
Key impacts include:
- Furloughs of hundreds of thousands of federal workers without immediate pay.
- Interruptions to welfare and food aid programs like WIC and potential delays in SNAP benefits.
- Closure or reduced operations of national parks and federal recreational facilities.
- Delays in federal inspections, housing loans, immigration court hearings, and some emergency projects.
- Essential services like air traffic control and law enforcement continue but may face disruptions as workers operate without pay.
- Potential permanent layoffs or workforce reductions, as recent plans indicate a more severe approach to shutdowns under the current administration.
- Economic losses and a decline in government workforce productivity and morale that may persist long after the shutdown ends.
Overall, government shutdowns disrupt many aspects of public life and government operations, harming vulnerable populations and the economy until funding is restored.
