federal debt

Unless Congress raises the debt ceiling soon, the government won't be able to pay its bills. Here's a graph showing some of the big payments coming due.

With hours left before the country tops its borrowing authority, the Senate-crafted, bipartisan measure moves to the chaotic lower chamber. Party leaders are hoping to pass it with a coalition of votes from Democrats and Republicans. The bill — which makes no major changes to the new health care law — would end the first government shutdown in 17 years and avert a default.

The House tried twice to craft a proposal to end the shutdown and extend the debt ceiling, but both failed to find traction within the GOP. Now, the Senate has restarted talks of its own. The bottom line, however, is that with just hours to go before the U.S. tops its borrowing authority, there's no solid plan on the table.

Most Americans say they aren't directly affected by the shutdown. But some pockets of society are being severely hit. Here are individual stories from across the country.

If Congress doesn't raise the debt ceiling soon, the U.S. government won't be able to pay its debts. Here's who won't get paid if the government defaults.