Today is optimistic Tuesday, so we’re going to take a look at the next step when furloughed employees return and agencies ring up contractors with orders to restart projects. It’s going to take a little careful knitting together of frayed edges. Trey Hodgkins, senior vice president for the global public sector at TechAmerica, explains how to re-establish some sense of normal interaction.

It’s day 15 of the government shutdown. Some believe the end is near because the government cannot risk defaulting on the national debt. Whenever the crisis ends, federal employees will return to their dusty desks. John Palguta is vice president for policy at the Partnership for Public Service. He has some tips for re-entry.

Federal courts are using money from filing fees and long-term appropriations to stay open during the shutdown. But the judiciary’s administrative office says even that money could run out by the end of this week. Jim Silkenat, president of the American Bar Association, explains how the crisis would impact the courts.

Senate leaders say they’ve got a general framework for a deal that would reopen the government. The shutdown has lasted for more than two weeks. And Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew is urging Congress to raise the debt ceiling before Thursday. Erik Wasson writes for The Hill Newspaper. He has details on the negotiations.