who does the government shut down affect

The government shutdown primarily affects a wide range of people and services, including approximately 40% of the federal workforce (about 750,000 employees) who are put on unpaid leave. Essential workers such as air traffic controllers, TSA officers, federal law enforcement, and active-duty military personnel continue working but do not receive pay until funding is restored. Non-essential federal employees are furloughed without pay until the shutdown ends. Key impacts include delayed paychecks for federal workers and military, disruptions to air travel due to understaffing, closed national parks and museums, delays in passport and visa processing, and interruptions in some public health and safety inspections. Social service programs like WIC and SNAP may also be jeopardized if the shutdown continues. Additionally, federal contractors, certain court hearings, and some disaster relief funding are affected, potentially impacting vulnerable populations significantly.