A government shutdown in the United States occurs when Congress fails to pass, or the president refuses to sign, the annual appropriations bills needed to fund federal government operations by the start of the fiscal year on October
- This results in a funding gap that forces federal agencies to cease all non-essential discretionary functions until new funding legislation is enacted
. The legal basis for a shutdown is the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from spending money without an appropriation. When no funding bill is in place, agencies must furlough non-essential employees and suspend many government services, while continuing only those activities deemed essential for protecting human life and property, such as national security, emergency medical care, air traffic control, and law enforcement
. Shutdowns disrupt a wide range of government services and programs, including closure of national parks and museums, delays in processing tax refunds, suspension of routine inspections by agencies like the Food and Drug Administration, and cancellation of immigration court hearings. They also cause economic harm by reducing government revenue, slowing economic growth, and creating financial insecurity for federal workers who are furloughed or required to work without pay
. Since the early 1980s, funding gaps have regularly led to shutdowns, with at least 10 shutdowns occurring since 1990. The longest shutdown lasted 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019, caused by a dispute over funding for a border wall. Shutdowns often end when Congress passes a continuing resolution or a full appropriations bill to restore funding
. In summary, a U.S. government shutdown is a partial or full closure of federal government operations due to a lapse in funding, leading to furloughs and suspension of many government services until funding is restored
