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
sequester sequester
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