who does the government shut down effect

The government shutdown primarily affects federal employees, federal contractors, and the general public who rely on government services. Around 40% of the federal workforce, or about 750,000 employees, could be put on unpaid leave or furloughed. Essential workers such as air traffic controllers, TSA officers, border agents, law enforcement, and emergency medical personnel must keep working but will do so without pay until the shutdown ends. Others, including many non-essential federal workers, will not receive paychecks during the shutdown and may face furloughs or mass layoffs. The shutdown impacts various services: Air travel may experience delays due to understaffed security and air traffic control; passport processing and visa issuance may slow down; national parks and museums might close or operate with limited services; routine health and safety inspections by agencies like the FDA and EPA could be suspended; and certain social services could face funding challenges if the shutdown is prolonged. Military personnel remain active but may miss paychecks temporarily. Federal courts, federal prisons, disaster relief, and food assistance programs experience disruptions or delays as well. In sum, the shutdown causes widespread operational delays, unpaid federal workers, and interruptions in services that affect millions of Americans nationwide.