Potential Shutdown of the US Federal Government
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Washington, Dec 20 (NationPress) If a funding plan is not enacted by Congress and signed by the president by Friday midnight, major segments of the US federal government will be forced to shut down, leaving hundreds of thousands either at home or working without pay.
Mike Johnson, the speaker of the Republican-led House of Representatives, informed reporters that he has a plan he anticipates will be put to a floor vote the following morning.
Following the conclusion of the fiscal year on September 30, the US Congress approved a temporary funding measure to maintain government operations. This measure expires at Friday midnight.
Johnson had to withdraw bipartisan legislation that was negotiated between Republicans and Democrats to fund the government until mid-March due to backlash from President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.
They raised objections to the expenditures included in the plan by Democrats, and Trump added a condition of his own, demanding an increase in the debt ceiling, which is a cap on the federal government's borrowing capacity to cover already committed expenses; it does not authorize new spending.
The Republicans proposed a streamlined plan that received backing from the president-elect. It was submitted for a vote in the House of Representatives on Thursday but was overwhelmingly rejected, with 174 votes in favor and 235 against.
In a significant revolt against the president-elect, thirty-eight fiscally conservative Republicans voted against the plan.
Even if the Republican-controlled House approves a funding plan, it must also pass through the Democratic-controlled Senate (which Republicans will lead starting in January) and receive President Joe Biden's signature to become effective.
Reports indicate that the White House has stated that Biden would not have supported the legislation that was voted on Thursday and subsequently failed.
President-elect Trump remains resolute.
"If a government shutdown is inevitable, let it commence now under the Biden Administration, rather than after January 20th under 'TRUMP'. This is a challenge for Biden to address, but if Republicans can assist, they will!"
A shutdown would affect the majority of the federal government, yet not all.
Exceptions will be made for essential services such as law enforcement and air traffic control, as well as fee-funded services like visa processing at the State Department and certain operations within the citizenship and immigration department.
Workers in essential services will not receive payment until Congress approves a spending bill. All other employees will be required to stay home without pay.
