what will happen if government shuts down

If the government shuts down, many federal services and operations will be suspended or limited until funding is restored. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers will be furloughed without pay, except for essential employees like active-duty military, air traffic controllers, and certain law enforcement who must work without immediate pay. Programs like Social Security, Medicare, and veterans benefits will continue but may face delays. Services such as passport processing, food assistance programs (WIC and SNAP), and safety inspections could be slowed or disrupted. National parks and museums may close, and federal contractors could lose work and pay. A prolonged shutdown could cause economic ripple effects, including delayed government payments to suppliers, possible job losses in certain sectors, and higher risk perception on US government bonds, potentially increasing interest rates and affecting financial markets. Overall, there would be widespread disruption impacting millions of workers and citizens until the government reopens.