Seven Ways a Government Shutdown Could Affect You

Here's how things could change on Oct. 1.

Here We Go Again - Congressional Republicans and Democrats are engaged once again in a government shutdown showdown. The GOP-led House has passed a short-term budget that comes with a condition – defunding Obamacare. In response, President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have said, "no way." Unless the parties can reach an agreement, the federal government will close its doors on Oct. 1. Here's how such a move would impact you. -- By Joyce Jones (Photos from left: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
How About a Staycation? - Plans to visit national museums, parks and zoos will have to be put on hold. And if you don't already have a passport, you can forget about that European vacation or Caribbean getaway you've been planning for months. (Photo: Photodisc/Getty Images)
The Office Is Closed - Federal employees, who've already been forced to take unpaid furlough days thanks to the sequester, will once again be ordered on leave without pay. The good news is they will more than likely be paid retroactively when the government reopens its doors. (Photo: Eva Russo for The Washington Post)Newly Retired? - You've been waiting for years for the day when you could kick back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. You may be waiting for that Social Security check if you're a new claimant.(Photo: William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)

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Here We Go Again - Congressional Republicans and Democrats are engaged once again in a government shutdown showdown. The GOP-led House has passed a short-term budget that comes with a condition – defunding Obamacare. In response, President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have said, "no way." Unless the parties can reach an agreement, the federal government will close its doors on Oct. 1. Here's how such a move would impact you. -- By Joyce Jones (Photos from left: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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