The possibility of a government shutdown is still pending. So what does this really mean for Washington, its agencies and its employees?

Jill Schlesinger of CBS/Moneywatch examines the possible government shutdown and compares it to the shutdown the government saw in 1995 and 1996.

Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz discusses the GOP's side of the budget discussions.

As the government faces a potential shutdown, some federal employees could face days or even weeks without pay.

In the 1995 shutdown, the web wasn't ubiquitous. Now government agencies have websites, blogs, Twitter accounts, and lots of their workers have Blackberries.

If the government closes for just a few days, the economic effect amounts to a bad blizzard. If it lasts longer, it could affect the fragile economic recovery.

As the government faces a potential shutdown over failing budget negotiations, federal employees are being divided into two camps: essential and non-essential.

The ongoing budget standoff on Capitol Hill means a shutdown of the federal government could be on the way. Economist Diane Lim Rogers explains what a government shutdown would mean for the economic recovery.

As the clock winds down on negotiations to avoid a government shutdown, agencies like the IRS and programs that provide foreign aid wait to see how a shutdown would affect operations.

In a shutdown, people filing paper tax returns may be out of luck when it comes to a quick refund. People who e-file may have a different experience.