The government could shut down in less than a week. Here's what you need to know

Congress is out of town this week, but when lawmakers return on Monday, Sept. 29, they'll be facing an immediate government funding deadline. If Congress doesn't act before Wednesday, Oct. 1, there will be a government shutdown. Right now, congressional leaders are busy blaming one another for the looming shutdown, but no clear path is emerging for how funding might be approved. Here’s what you need to know with less than a week until a possible government shutdown: The government runs out of funding as the clock strikes midnight from Tuesday, Sept. 30 to Wednesday, Oct. 1. To avoid that shutdown, Congress must pass either a short-term funding bill, called a continuing resolution (or CR), or they must approve 12 separate full-year funding bills. Congress does not have time to finish work o