Will US lawmakers avert looming government shutdown? All you need to know

A US government shutdown would see hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed and a wide range of government services suspended [File: J Scott Applewhite/AP Photo]

An annual political battle over funding for the United States federal government has left the country on the brink of a shutdown.

With just five days until the new fiscal year begins on October 1, US legislators are scrambling to overcome an impasse fuelled by hardline Republicans who have promised to block funding legislation unless deep spending cuts are made.