why can the government shut down

The government can shut down due to a failure in Congress to pass funding legislation required to finance federal government operations. This often happens when lawmakers cannot agree on a budget or a temporary funding measure before the start of a new fiscal year. Without approved funding, under laws like the Antideficiency Act, federal agencies must cease non-essential activities, close down some operations, furlough non-essential workers, and only keep essential personnel working, sometimes without immediate pay. In the U.S., shutdowns occur because the Treasury cannot spend money without congressional authorization, and if the appropriations bills expire without renewal, the government must partially or fully shut down. Shutdowns result from political disagreements, often centered around budget priorities or policy issues such as healthcare or defense spending. Even if the government is shut down, certain critical functions like national security, air traffic control, and emergency medical care continue operating.