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 life.

What closes during a government shutdown

Why you should care:

The most visible closures are national parks, monuments and museums. Previous shutdowns forced tourists away from destinations like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and the Smithsonian museums, though the Smithsonian museums plan to remain open at least until Monday , should the shutdown extend t

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