WASHINGTON (AP) -- Most federal employees have already been given the word -- they're essential, and they'll stay on the job, or they're not, and they'll be furloughed.
Just hours remain before the midnight deadline for Republican and Democratic leaders to agree on a spending plan that would head off a government shutdown.
If there's a shutdown, some non-essential workers will be allowed into their offices for up to four hours Monday to finish up tasks -- but that would be it.
Amid the uncertainty, President Barack Obama had already canceled a trip today to Indianapolis. And now he's canceled a weekend trip with his family to Williamsburg, Va.
Meanwhile, the Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress are disagreeing over what's holding up agreement. Republicans say it's all about making serious spending cuts.
But Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid says the two sides had reached agreement on $38 billion in spending cuts, and that the only hang-up was a Republican demand to cut a federal program that provides women's health and family planning services.
Georgia preparing for government shutdown
Georgia's top politicians are preparing plans to keep state agencies that get federal funding running in case Congressional leaders can't reach a deal to avoid a painful government shutdown.
Gov. Nathan Deal's office has collected memos from all Georgia agencies to prepare and his office said the state should be able to handle a shutdown that lasts up to four weeks without significantly impacting services.
Deal spokesman Brian Robinson said some agencies are drawing from federal grants early to cover any financial gaps.
The situation is trickier for the state Department of Defense, since only 16 of the agency's 461 staffers are fully paid by the state. Robinson said money managers are confident there's enough money in the budget to cover other stopgaps, but would not elaborate.
Government shutdown questions, answered
Fifteen years ago, amid government shutdowns that sent 800,000 federal workers home, a congressional subcommittee held a hearing on how the Clinton administration managed the closure of the federal government.
The chairman of that House panel, Rep. John Mica, called the six-day shutdown in November 1995 "disorganized and illogical at best, and often times chaotic." A week later, the government partially shut down for 21 more days.
A potential shutdown this weekend, the Florida Republican said, could be much worse.
"Right now, we're talking about a massive shutdown and a massive disruption," Mica told USA TODAY. "The scope of this shutdown is so much greater than what happened in '95, you can't compare them."
What could happen
Q: What would I notice right away?
A: Many federal facilities would close, including national parks, museums and monuments.
Q: Would I still get mail?
A: Yes. The Postal Service is self-funded.
Q: Do I still have to file my taxes? What about my refund?
A: Tax returns still would be due by April 18. Returns filed electronically (about 70 percent of the total) would be processed; paper returns would not. Internal Revenue Service walk-in centers would close.
Q: What about my Social Security check?
A: A majority of monthly Social Security checks went out on April 1. Checks would continue to be sent later this month, including for Supplemental Security Income. But new applications could be delayed.
Q: How would the military be treated?
A: The two-week paychecks due April 15 for active-duty servicemembers and civilians would be reduced by half. Once funding is restored, back pay would be issued.
Q: How about veterans' benefits?
A: Hospitals and other medical services would remain open, but some customer support services would be suspended. Disability, education and other benefits should not be delayed if adequate staffing levels are maintained.
Q: What other federal payments would continue?
A: Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps are entitlements and therefore would not be affected. Student aid payments would be processed.
Q: What federal payments and services would be at risk?
A: The Federal Housing Administration would stop endorsing new mortgage loans. The Small Business Administration would delay new loans. Most passport offices would be closed, with only emergency services available. Mine inspections would cease.
Q: Would the trains run on time?
A: They should. Amtrak, which is federally subsidized, can operate for a time on ticket revenue.
Q: Which federal workers would be furloughed?
A: An estimated 800,000 workers would be told to stay home, power down their BlackBerrys, and stay off their e-mail accounts. Even volunteering without pay is forbidden under labor laws. Their federal health benefits would continue. Unemployment benefits would be up to each state. In the past, furloughed workers have received back pay for missed days, but that's not guaranteed.
Q: Who would continue to work?
A: Anyone deemed essential - and that's a loose definition. It includes those involved in law enforcement, border protection, public health and safety, homeland security, air traffic control, prisons and disaster relief. It also includes people working on the shutdown itself.
Q: What about federal contractors?
A: The same theory applies. If they are considered essential, they would keep working. If not, they would stay home.
Q: What about the people responsible for the shutdown - at the White House and in Congress?
A: Elected officials are considered essential; their staffs are another matter. The White House anticipates lower staffing levels during a shutdown. Some members of Congress, such as Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., have said they would exempt some staffers in order to monitor how the shutdown is handled.
Q: What would be the impact on the economy?
A: Nationally, that's unclear. But in places such as the Washington, D.C., and near national parks, it could be severe. In Washington, trash pickup and street sweeping would be suspended, and libraries and motor vehicles offices would close. Even Saturday's annual Cherry Blossom Festival Parade is in doubt.
Q: How much would all this cost?
A: The government has no estimate, but White House deputy budget director Jeffrey Zients said it would be "relatively significant."
Q: Who would get blamed for this?
A: In 1995-96, Republicans largely were blamed for the shutdowns. This time, it's less clear. In a Gallup Poll this week, 41 percent of Americans said President Obama and Democrats were doing a better job trying to reach a deal; 34 percent said Republicans were trying harder.
What it means for Georgia
More than 100,000 people are employed by the federal government in Georgia, many in Metro Atlanta.
According to Commissioner Mark Butler with the Georgia Department of Labor, an undetermined number of them may be furloughed or laid off. Butler says furloughed and laid off employees will be eligible to receive unemployment benefits.
He goes on to say that people receiving unemployment benefits overall, will continue to receive them.
People who are contractors with the federal government may be affected by any shutdown as well.
At Atlanta's Centers for Disease Control, non-impacted programs include those pertaining to the safety of human life and the protection of property. The CDC's Emergency Operations Center will remain active.
Immunizations for children and outbreak investigations, along with facilities security and operations will continue.
CDC officials say there may be delays in disease surveillance and reporting - which may make recognition of any outbreaks that take place slower during any shutdown. The media relations office will be shut down.
Other delays the CDC faces include consultations for clinicians, testing of samples and consultations for state health departments. Monitoring via surveys will be stopped.
The Department of Defense released a memo Thursday afternoon indicating that operations essential to safety, the protection of human life and protection of American national security will continue, as will inpatient and essential outpatient care in Department of Defense medical facilities.
Military personnel are expected to report for work as normal during the shutdown. Civilians who are involved in services that are deemed essential and "excepted from shutting down" will continue to report as normal.
The memo discusses pay as well:
"If the government shuts down due to the absence of funding, the DoD will have no funds to pay military members or civilian employees for the days during which the government is shut down. However, both military and civilian personnel will receive pay for the period worked prior to the shutdown. Military personnel, and civilians occupying excepted status positions and required to work, are entitled to be paid for work performed during the shutdown, and will be paid retroactively once the department receives additional funding. Congress would have to provide authority in order for the department to retroactively pay non-excepted employees for the furloughed period."
Kennesaw Mountain and the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area are among the U.S. National Park facilities that will close with minimal emergency services. The Martin Luther King Historic Site - with the exception of Freedom Hall and the grave site -- is expected to remain closed during a shutdown period.
What's the holdup?
Only hours before a possible government shutdown, House Speaker John Boehner indicated no agreement had been reached, saying that Senate Democrats should do "the responsible thing" and pass the House budget bill.
"When will the White House and Senate Democrats get serious about cutting spending?" the Ohio Republican said.
Only moments later, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, on the Senate floor, "We're very hopeful we can reach agreement on the budget today."
Reid told reporters earlier Friday that both sides had agreed on a spending cut of $38 billion but that a fight over federal dollars for Planned Parenthood is blocking a deal. Boehner's aides have denied that.
Boehner and Reid failed to reach a breakthrough during their meeting late Thursday with President Obama at the White House.
Obama had called upon both sides to give him a response this morning on whether they could bridge their differences and avoid a shutdown.
When will we know?
Even the Internet has gotten in on the action -- IstheGovernmentShutdown.com will give you a definitive answer "YES" or "NO", along with a link to a Twitter feed -- @Govt_Shutdown -- which is keeping track of news stories and details online.
(USA Today and The Associated Press contributed to this report)