President Obama speaks to the media after the automatic budget cuts associated with the sequester took effect in March 2013. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption
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House Speaker John Boehner leaves a news conference Thursday, after criticizing conservative groups that he said held too much sway in Republican politics, "pushing our members in places where they don't want to be." J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption
Veterans are often found at Washington's war memorials, like the one to U.S. service members who died in Vietnam, recalling lost buddies and lost youth. J. David Ake/AP hide caption
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., differ in style and ideology but show signs of having a good working relationship. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), left, seen here speaking with Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) in an elevator Sunday, says that undoing the sequester cuts is "one of the sticking points" in budget talks. Congress is struggling to find a solution to end the government shutdown, now in its thirteenth day. Andrew Burton/Getty Images hide caption
Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, and fellow GOP senators accused the Obama administration of creating a "manufactured crisis" by furloughing FAA air traffic controllers and causing delayed flights. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption
Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire at the Capitol last month. The senators are among a group invited to dine Wednesday with President Obama. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption
The White House: When night falls, it looks like the "sequester" will arrive. Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA /LANDOV hide caption
Under sequestration, federal agencies don't have the flexibility to choose to spare popular programs or services by making administrative cuts elsewhere. Tatiana Popova/iStockphoto.com hide caption
Will the clouds part, the sun shine and a sequester solution be found? Jason Reed/Reuters /Landov hide caption
President Obama speaks about the sequester on Feb. 19. Charles Dharapak/AP hide caption
The U.S. Capitol, as seen from the nearby Russell Senate Office Building. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters /Landov hide caption
House Speaker John Boehner held a news conference Feb. 13 in which Republicans promoted the hashtag #Obamaquester to blame President Obama for automatic spending cuts set to kick in March 1. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption
President Obama, accompanied by emergency responders — workers the White House says could be affected if state and local governments lose federal money as a result of budget cuts — speaks in the Eisenhower Executive Office building in Washington on Tuesday. Charles Dharapak/AP hide caption
As he pressed Congress for action Tuesday, President Obama stood before a group of first responders. He made the case that their departments will be hurt if automatic budget cuts go into effect March 1. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption
President Obama at the White House on Tuesday. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters /Landov hide caption
Spending cuts that are part of the looming sequester could cause big job losses in defense and other industries. U.S. Navy/Getty Images hide caption