Your Questions Answered on a Government Shutdown

Will the U.S. government shut down for lack of money, and if so, what doors actually close? How did we get here, and which party might be blamed? With elected leaders in Washington running out of ideas for keeping the federal government funded, and a midnight deadline fast approaching, Americans might want to start reacquainting themselves with the details of government shutdowns.

Over the course of months, it’s gone from a far-out possibility to an imminent headache. With members of Congress still in session, and President Donald Trump down the avenue in the White House, there’s always the chance for a last-minute deal that at least postpones a shutdown for a few days or weeks. But the countdown clocks running on cable-news channels -- ticking down until midnight Washington -- testify to the fact that time is running out.