Lawmakers in Congress are facing a looming government shutdown as they return to Washington. With less than 18 hours left before wide swaths of the federal government could grind to a halt, lawmakers are struggling to find a resolution to the deadlock.
The main source of contention lies within the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where infighting has caused a stalemate. The House has been unable to pass legislation that would keep the government open beyond the start of the fiscal year on October 1. On the other side of the Capitol, the Democratic-controlled Senate is set to pass a stopgap funding bill, but it may take days before a final vote is reached.
If a spending bill is not sent to Democratic President Joe Biden by 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be unable to carry out their jobs due to a lack of funding. Federal agencies have already made plans outlining essential services that will continue, such as airport screening and border patrols, while other services, including scientific research and nutrition aid to millions of low-income mothers, will be affected.
Most government employees, whether working or not, will not receive their salaries during the shutdown. This has prompted some adjustments in external events, such as former President Jimmy Carter’s 99th birthday festivities in Atlanta, which were moved up to avoid disruption.
The current standoff comes just months after Congress narrowly avoided defaulting on the nation’s debt. The uncertainty and potential for a government shutdown have raised concerns on Wall Street, with credit rating agency Moody’s warning that it could harm the country’s creditworthiness.
Traditionally, Congress passes stopgap spending bills to provide more time for negotiations on detailed legislation that determines federal funding. However, this year, a group of Republicans has been blocking action in the House. They are pushing for stricter immigration policies and deeper spending cuts than what was agreed upon during the debt-ceiling standoff earlier this year.
On Friday, 21 Republicans joined Democrats in rejecting legislation that reflected these demands. They argued that the House should focus on passing detailed spending bills for the full fiscal year, even if it leads to a temporary shutdown. This decision has angered other Republicans who believe it has missed an opportunity to advance their conservative priorities.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has suggested that the chamber may rely on Democrats to pass a stopgap bill to continue funding at current levels, despite potential challenges to his leadership from hardliners. However, no further details were provided.
In the Senate, a procedural vote is scheduled at 1:00 p.m. to extend government funding through November 17. This proposal has broad support from both Republicans and Democrats. However, due to the Senate’s procedural rules, a final vote on passage may be delayed until Tuesday.
Even if the Senate’s proposal passes, the two chambers will need to reconcile their differences before sending any bill to President Biden’s desk. This may pose yet another hurdle, as McCarthy has expressed opposition to $6 billion in Ukraine aid included in the Senate bill.
Efforts are ongoing to find a way out of the impasse, but time is running out. Lawmakers will need to act swiftly to avert a government shutdown and provide stability to federal employees and the country as a whole.
Reporting by Andy Sullivan and David Morgan; Editing by Sonali Paul