How the government shutdown will affect Americans

Washington's political gridlock could inflict wide-ranging miseries, as anything deemed non-essential will be put on hold.

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The impasse affects the funding of government operations through October and beyond, and is poised to cause widespread disruption for Americans in areas ranging from air travel to zoo visits.

The political gridlock is also expected to put 40% of the federal workforce – about 750,000 people – on unpaid leave.

This is how its impact could be felt across the country.

A federal shutdown could hit flyers in a variety of ways, potentially leading to long security queues, and delays caused by unpaid air traffic controllers choosing to stay home rather than work for free.