The United States government has officially shut down after Democrats blocked a temporary funding bill proposed by Republicans. The Republicans’ proposal did not address the key demands made by Democrats, resulting in a political deadlock. When the clock struck midnight, government funding expired, leaving lawmakers and citizens uncertain about what would happen next. This marks the first government shutdown in nearly seven years.

What does a shut down mean?

A shutdown means that many government services will stop working, especially those that are not considered essential. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are now affected. Some will be required to stay home without pay, while others, such as military personnel, law enforcement officers, and air-traffic controllers, will still have to report to work but will not receive their salaries until the shutdown ends.

According to estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, up to 750,000 federal workers could be temporarily furloughed. However, this shutdown comes with an added concern. President Donald Trump has warned that his administration may permanently fire “a lot” of federal workers, instead of allowing them to return after funding is restored, as has been the practice in previous shutdowns.

What will still work

Despite the shutdown, essential services will continue to operate. Hospital and emergency medical care, border protection, law enforcement, military operations, and air-traffic control will remain functional. People will still receive Social Security and Medicare payments, though tasks like benefit verification or issuing new cards may be delayed.

What will be affected?

On the other hand, many everyday services that people rely on could be paused or limited. Programs such as food assistance, federally funded pre-schools, student loan processing, and food inspections may slow down or stop. National parks and museums could either close completely or operate with minimal staff, leading to reduced access or maintenance issues.

Travel disruptions are also possible if unpaid workers begin to skip shifts. In past shutdowns, employees who were furloughed without pay later received their salaries once the government reopened. But with the president’s threat of permanent dismissals, many workers are now unsure whether they will even get their jobs back. The entire nation is watching closely as the political standoff continues, unsure of how long the shutdown will last or how deeply it will affect daily life across the country.