Congress and White House Race to Avert Government Shutdown, With No Deal in Place and Millions of Americans at Risk

At midnight on Saturday, the United States is facing a potential government shutdown, with no deal in place to avert it. This would mean furloughs for federal workers, no pay for more than 2 million active-duty and reserve military troops, and disruptions to programs and services that Americans rely on.

The shutdown is due to a disagreement between hard-right Republicans in Congress and the White House over spending cuts and border security measures. The House on Friday rejected a 30-day stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution or CR, which would have kept offices open.

Congressional leaders are now scrambling to secure a last-minute funding deal to prevent a government shutdown, but many dejected lawmakers say it is all but inevitable at this point. If a shutdown occurs, it would mean no paychecks for the nation’s 4 million servicemembers and other federal workers, the closure of federal parks and monuments, and disruptions to food and education programs for low-income children.

The economic impact of a potential shutdown would be felt by millions of American families. The White House and Congress are continuing to negotiate in an effort to reach a deal before the midnight deadline.