A government shutdown is days away. Here’s what you need to know.

Funding for federal agencies expires on Sept. 30, and Congress is at an impasse over how to avert a government shutdown.

That means broad swaths of the federal government - from national parks to small business loans to taxpayer services - are set to go offline this week until lawmakers and President Donald Trump strike a deal on new funding.

This shutdown, if it happens, could be different from other recent shutdowns: The White House budget office has told agencies to consider broad layoffs if the government closes.

Here’s what you need to know.

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What is a government shutdown?

The federal government can only spend money that is approved by Congress through spending laws called appropriations. Congress typically passes spending bills that expire at the end of the fiscal year, Se