When the government shuts down, it means that Congress has failed to pass the required funding legislation for the federal government to operate for the new fiscal year. As a result, many federal agencies and programs lose their funding and must stop non-essential operations, furlough non-essential employees, and only maintain essential services related to national security, public safety, and protection of human life or property. Essential employees may have to work without pay until funding is restored. Some government functions, like Social Security, Medicare, and debt interest payments, continue because they are funded by mandatory spending, which is not subject to annual appropriations. Shutdowns lead to disruptions in services such as national parks, passport processing, food safety inspections, and many other government functions, impacting both public services and federal workers financially until the shutdown ends. The government can reopen once Congress passes the necessary appropriations or a temporary funding measure known as a continuing resolution.