Hi Mark,
It is part of a potential greater US Govt shutdown crises should Congress not pass the budget.
See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...utdown_of_2013
See
http://www.news.com.au/business/mark...-1226730724779
See
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-1...ss-flails.html
The funding of NASA is just one tiny part of a much larger calamity. The
US Govt has had partial shutdowns before but talks have
stalled this time around.