From Wall Street to Main Street: What the Government Shutdown Means for Investors
A shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass necessary legislation that would keep funding certain federal agencies. A shutdown does not stop everything. Mandatory government funding for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits will continue, although the agencies that oversee these programs could face furloughs, meaning workers will be forced to take a temporary unpaid leave of absence from their jobs. Once the government is reopened, Congress can pass legislation to give back pay to furloughed workers.