The government has shut down. What does that mean for Rhode Island?

Social Security and Medicare benefits will continue during a shutdown.

You will still get mail during a government shutdown.

Many national parks will close.

The government has shut down after Republicans and Democrats were unable to come to an agreement on funding.

Congressional Democrats had refused to support any funding extensions that didn't address a slate of health care demands . Republicans refused to budge and, unable to come to a deal , the partial government shutdown began on Oct. 1 at 12:01 a.m.

During the shutdown, "essential" government services such as the U.S. Postal Service and air traffic control continue working, but "non-essential" functions like national parks close or cut staffing.

During a government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal workers