system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What does it mean that New Jersey & Maine government has 'shut down'?

Is it a big deal? What are the implications/how are people affected?
gpt
When a government "shuts down," they basically stop operating anything considered to be a non-essential service--things like parks, tourist bureaus, etc. In addition, a lot of paperwork-related things are curtailed if not shut down--so if you're waiting for a car registration or a licensure or some other thing, you may not get it at all or it will be heavily delayed while the shutdown is in place. 

The state employees are not paid while this happens (at least by the state--some state unions have funds specifically for this to keep paychecks coming in.) although benefits will continue. Sometimes they are reimbursed after the shutdown, sometimes not.