Don't apply for a new passport anytime soon.

quote ABC News

Fury in Washington as shutdown looms

Despite talks overnight and into the morning, there is still no deal in Washington to avert a federal government shutdown, with the US government within hours of effectively running out of money.

The talks failed to unblock a deadlock on a bill funding the government through October 1, despite president Barack Obama's demand for a deal as time fast ticked away to a midnight (local time) deadline.

Republican and Democratic leaders could not even agree on what they disagreed on, as both sides played to core political supporters in public even as their negotiators pressed on with exhaustive closed-doors talks.

The Democrats insist there was an agreement on the numbers last night on budget cuts, including some defence spending, but Republicans say there was never a deal.

Democrats are also accusing Republicans of sabotaging the negotiations by insisting on funding restrictions for women's health groups providing abortions.

Should last-ditch efforts fail, around 800,000 federal employees would be temporarily laid off, paychecks for frontline combat soldiers would be delayed and even Blackberry smart phones of government officials would go dark.

National parks would close, passport services would halt and no new pioneering medical trials would start, but operations vital to national security like the war in Afghanistan and border services would go on as normal.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Mr Obama spoke separately to House of Representatives speaker John Boehner and Democratic Senate majority leader Harry Reid, who are the key powerbrokers in the negotiations.

But Mr Boehner charged that a deal was foundering because Democrats were balking at cuts in government programs that Republicans say are vital to curtailing the expanding deficit.

"There's only one reason that we do not have an agreement as yet, and that issue is spending," Mr Boehner said on Capitol Hill.

"We're close to a resolution on the policy issues. But I think the American people deserve to know when will the White House and when will Senate Democrats get serious about cutting spending?" Mr Boehner said.

Mr Reid however said that the two sides had agreed on $US38 billion in cuts and slammed Republicans for including a bid to curtail social programs in the deal, charging they were the puppets of social conservatives.

ABC News

quote DragoniteBallZ

Does that mean I wont be getting my tax return soon? I want my $800~ check.

If you handled it online I think you might be alright. I know that if you are on unemployment and you handle it online then you will still get your money. If you did it by normal mail though you will probably have to wait until it's all settled.

Yay, the Republican party screws another thing up!

quote DragoniteBallZ

Does that mean I wont be getting my tax return soon? I want my $800~ check.

quote Capn Droid

Mother*bleep*ing shit, was just about to get my *bleep*ing temps. How long am I not going to be able to drive?

For 30 or so more years, Or when China invades the US. Whichever comes first.

quote ciao

They troll themselves so good :3

quote XShadowknight

Yay, the Republican party screws another thing up!