Government shutdown starts: Here's what closes during a shutdown

The Brief

The federal government is largely shut down after a midnight deadline for a budget deal came and went.

Hundreds of thousands of government employees are likely to be furloughed, while places like national parks and museums will be closed.

Critical federal functions like Social Security will remain available, but service could be slower than usual.

WASHINGTON - The government officially shut down overnight after Congress failed to pass a funding measure before the 12 a.m. Wednesday deadline.

A shutdown happens when lawmakers fail to pass budget bills or a short-term funding measure, known as a continuing resolution, to keep agencies running. When that happens, many federal services pause, federal workers are furloughed, and Americans may feel ripple effects across daily lif