Everything you need to know about government shutdowns

The US government sure looks like it’s on track for another shutdown.

Currently, the House of Representatives has yet to pass any legislation that would keep the government fully funded. If lawmakers fail to take action before midnight on October 1, the government will go into a partial shutdown that will result in hundreds of thousands of federal employees being furloughed, the closure of important facilities like immigration courts, and potential staffing shortages in fields like air traffic control.

It’s a completely avoidable outcome, but it’s one that appears increasingly likely since...