On Tuesday night, Americans watched closely to see whether Congress would avoid a government shutdown. When lawmakers failed to reach a compromise before the midnight deadline, the federal government officially ran out of funding . So, what does a government shutdown actually mean? The Congressional Research Service explains that when annual or temporary appropriations expire without renewal, federal agencies experience what’s known as a “funding gap.” Since the federal fiscal year begins on October 1, Congress and the president must pass new appropriations by that date. If they don’t, and the gap stretches longer than a day, a shutdown begins.

During a government closure, many federal workers are placed on “shutdown furlough,” meaning they’re temporarily off duty and without pay unti

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