The first federal government shutdown in 15 years is looming. If Congress does not pass a budget by Friday, non-essential federal agencies will go into shutdown mode until a budget is passed. This afternoon, President Obama took a few minutes to address the media before the daily press briefing. During his speech, the president emphasized the importance of agreeing on a budget and preventing a shutdown.

“The only question is whether politics or ideology are going to get in the way of preventing a government shutdown. Now, what does this potentially mean for the American people? At a time when the economy is just beginning to grow, where we’re just starting to see a pickup in employment, the last thing we need is a disruption that’s caused by a government shutdown. Not to mention all the people who depend on government services, whether you’re a veteran or you’re somebody who’s trying to get a passport or you’re planning to visit one of the national monuments or you’re a business leader who’s trying to get a small business loan. You don’t want delays, you don’t want disruptions just because of usual politics in Washington.” Source: The White House