system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What actually happens if "the government shuts down"

I just see it all over the news articles. "Votes to defund Obamacare threaten to shut down government." What the hell does shutting down even mean?
gpt
2.1 million federal employees will be furloughed, many federal programs such as SS and welfare will still happen but be slowed down because of loss of staff. Borders will still be patrolled, certain obligations still paid for, military still will carry out actions but the federal government will halt all of  its non-essential functions until a budget gets passed.