Lizzie, we're six months into the federal fiscal year (which runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30), but a final budget has yet to be approved. Theoretically, this is the time of year when the next year's budget is being planned, but...

Things have have been running on temporary budget extensions, the latest of which expires tomorrow. If there's no budget (or extension) before then, the government officially shuts down (with the exception of certain "essential services" and various operations that run their finances in a way that provides a different timing on cash flow).

It's a mess. (To grossly understate the matter.)

~ Becky in Long Beach