US government shutdown - in pictures

At a news conference in the Capitol, senators and Senate majority leader Harry Reid stand with a clock counting down nine hours to a government shutdown Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

President Barack Obama speaks about the budget showdown and the potential federal government shutdown during a meeting in the cabinet room of the White House Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

A man pretends to hold the US flag as his picture is taken during a visit to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington. Museums will close during the federal government shutdown Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

President Barack Obama leaves the White House briefing room after speaking to the media about the looming government shutdown Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Tourists on Segways are briefed about the potential government shutdown during a stop near the US Capitol as the sun sets behind the Washington Monument Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Republican Senator Ted Cruz returns to his Capitol Hill office after the Senate once again rejected the House version of the government funding bill. A week ago, Cruz stayed on the Senate floor overnight, crusading against Obamacare
Photograph: J Scott Applewhite/AP

A sculpture of the first US president, George Washington, silhouetted against the Capitol rotunda, photographed shortly before the midnight deadline Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPA

Senator John McCain strains to hear a reporter's question as he leaves the Senate floor after a late-night vote rejected budget legislation Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Deadline missed: the Ohio Clock outside the Senate chamber in the Capitol shows 12:01am Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP

House minority leader, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Reporters wait outside the office of US House Speaker John Boehner Photograph: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

House Speaker, Republican John Boehner, during a news conference on Capitol Hill Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP

A member of the US House of Representatives leaves the Capitol after the Republican-led House voted to delay Obamacare Photograph: Jim Bourg/Reuters