LIVE UPDATES
- US Govt. Risk Shutdown in 18 Hours if President Joe Biden Does Sign Budget Funding Bill Into Law.
- Thousands of employees' Salaries May Not Be Paid Unless President Biden Signs the Bill Within 18 Hours.
- The Congress is scrambling for last-minute votes to avert the total shutdown of the US Govt.
The United States is on the brink of a partial government shutdown, as the House of Representatives has been unable to pass legislation to keep the government open beyond the Oct. 1 start of the fiscal year.
The standoff comes after a group of Republicans blocked action in the House as they have pressed to tighten immigration and cut spending below levels agreed to in the debt-ceiling standoff last spring.
On Friday, 21 Republicans joined with Democrats to defeat legislation that reflected those demands, saying the chamber should focus instead on passing detailed spending bills for the full fiscal year, even if it leads to a shutdown in the near term.
That angered other Republicans, who said they had blown an opportunity to advance conservative policies.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said the chamber might try to rely on Democrats to help pass a stopgap bill that would continue funding at current levels, even though that could prompt a challenge to his leadership from hardliners. He did not provide further details.
The Senate is due to hold a procedural vote at 1:00 p.m. (1700 GMT) to extend government funding through Nov. 17.
It enjoys wide support from Republicans and Democrats, but the chamber's numerous hurdles mean that a vote on final passage could be delayed until Tuesday.
Even if that passes, the two chambers would have to resolve their differences before sending any bill to Biden's desk. That could pose another hurdle, as McCarthy said he opposed $6 billion in Ukraine aid included in the Senate bill.
What Does This Mean for Citizens?
If the government shuts down, many non-essential government services will be suspended.
This could include national parks, museums, and other public attractions. It could also disrupt some government services, such as passport processing and Social Security payments.
If you have any plans that involve the government in the next few days, it is a good idea to check to see if they will be affected by a shutdown.
You can also find more information about the potential impact of a shutdown on the website of the Office of Management and Budget.
