A government shutdown happens in the United States when the federal government runs out of money to operate. Every year, Congress must vote to approve a budget. This budget gives money to government departments so they can pay workers, run programs, and provide services. If Congress and the President cannot agree on this budget before the deadline, many parts of the government are forced to stop working. This is called a shutdown.
During a shutdown, thousands of government employees are told not to come to work. They are called furloughed workers. National parks, museums, and offices might close. Services like passport renewals or tax help may slow down or stop completely. However, essential services such as hospitals, the military, and air traffic control continue to operate, because they are necessary for safety and security.
Shutdowns happen because of political disagreement. Usually, the two main political parties — the Democrats and the Republicans — cannot agree on how to spend public money. For example, one party may want more money for health programs, while the other prefers more spending on defense. When they refuse to compromise, the budget is not approved, and the shutdown begins.
The economic effects can be serious. Workers lose pay, tourism decreases, and small businesses near government buildings can suffer. The longer the shutdown lasts, the bigger the impact on the national economy.
To end a shutdown, Congress must pass a new funding bill — a law that gives money to government departments again. The President must then sign it. Sometimes, this process takes days; other times, it takes weeks. Once the budget is approved, workers return to their jobs, and the government starts functioning normally again. Shutdowns remind Americans how important cooperation and compromise are in politics.
Vocabulary:
• shutdown (noun): when the government stops working because it has no approved budget
• budget (noun): a plan for how to spend and manage money
• approve (verb): to officially agree to something
• federal (adj): related to the national government of the U.S.
• furloughed (adj): temporarily not working or paid because of a shutdown
• compromise (noun): an agreement where each side gives up something
• funding (noun): money provided for a specific purpose
• deadline (noun): the latest time by which something must be done