Government Shutdown

A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass funding bills or the president doesn’t sign them into law, leading to a temporary halt in non-essential government services. Essential services, like national security and public safety, continue to operate. During a shutdown, many government employees may be furloughed (placed on leave without pay), and public offices and services can become limited or unavailable. Shutdowns typically happen over disagreements about budget priorities or policy issues, reflecting political impasses. They are often temporary and resolved once agreement is reached on funding, allowing government operations to resume normal activities.