The federal government could have a partial shutdown beginning Oct. 1 unless President Donald Trump and both parties in Congress can reach a budget deal that has so far included scant negotiation.

Congressional Democrats feel stung by the mass layoffs and program cuts that followed the last stopgap spending deal in March. Many now argue there is little value to locking in those cutbacks with a budget that extends spending they already view as unacceptable.

The White House is threatening to enact even deeper cuts if a shutdown happens and Trump has publicly said “don’t even bother” working with Democrats. That seems an especially risky approach given that GOP margins in both the House and Senate are too thin to move unilaterally.

Here’s what you need to know about a possible shutdown.

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