State funding expires at midnight Saturday and House Republicans are still a long way from reaching a deal that will pass the Senate.
Since the vote on an internal party spending bill has failed again, a shutdown is all but inevitable.
Republicans are trying to reach an agreement that will prevent widespread chaos and unrest across the country.
Twenty-one Republican hardliners in Congress sided with all Democrats and voted no on a party-line plan that would have cut $1.471 trillion in spending and increased border security.
It was a brutal defeat for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who faced relentless criticism from the right wing of his party.
Even if the bill had passed, it would not have prevented a shutdown: It would never have been considered in the Senate, which is working on its own bipartisan measure, which McCarthy rejected.
However, it would have marked a starting point between the House and Senate proposals.
Some Republicans have suggested that the actual deadline to get something done is now Oct. 13, the day military members would miss their first paycheck.
For now, federal employees deemed “essential” are forced to work without pay. Those deemed non-essential will be furloughed.
Members of Congress and the president will continue to be paid, even though many have said they won’t take a paycheck. Many of their employees will continue to work unpaid but will receive back pay if a deal goes through.
Others, such as janitors and cafeteria workers employed by third-party contractors, will likely be furloughed without back pay.
Meanwhile, the White House claims that 10,000 children nationwide will lose access to Head Start programs because the Department of Health and Human Services won’t provide grants during a shutdown.
They claim that without new funding, nearly 7 million women and children could lose access to WIC, the food assistance program.
The National Institutes of Health would likely furlough most of its employees, delaying new clinical trials and medical treatments.
All Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will close their doors. National parks may remain open, but may not have visitor services such as restrooms and park directors.
There are potential delays in Medicare and Social Security customer service, but payments should remain unaffected because these programs are funded through permanent, not annual, appropriations.
Those who voted against the bill insist the only way to move forward is with 12 single-issue spending bills for the 2024 fiscal year.
The trash can overflows as people sit in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial at the Tidal Basin during a partial government shutdown on December 27, 2018 in Washington
The trash can overflows as people sit in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial at the Tidal Basin during a partial government shutdown on December 27, 2018 in Washington
The failed vote was a brutal defeat for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who faced relentless criticism from the right wing of his party
House Republicans will now meet for an emergency all-conference meeting at 4 p.m
“It’s not the end yet.” “I have other ideas,” McCarthy told reporters after the failed vote. The House of Representatives will now vote on Saturday, but it is not yet clear on what.
The Republican base is increasingly dissatisfied with the right wing of their party.
“EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT just joined Matt Gaetz and MTG for open borders and a closed government,” Rep. John James, R-Mich., wrote on X. “Democrats and the Clown Caucus care more about their fundraising goals than this Wellbeing of America.”
And a frustrated McCarthy had previously said he would bring the bill to the floor regardless of whether or not there were the votes needed to pass it.
“Every member must put on record where they stand. Are you ready to secure the border? Or will they side with President Biden on an open border and vote against a measure to keep the government open?’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Senate is moving forward with its own version of a continuing resolution, backed by both Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell.
The CR Senate has money for Ukraine and no border provisions, and McCarthy has said he will not raise this as it is in the House.
The speaker celebrated a victory Thursday night in passing three budget bills – state and foreign operations, homeland security and defense. This makes a total of four out of twelve budget bills, none of which will pass the Senate.
“Last night the House of Representatives did something that none of you sitting here thought possible.”
“Need I remind you how much the Senate passed? Zero,” he added.
The speaker described the Czech Republic as the only way to secure the border amid a new wave of migrants. He noted that there have been 50,000 illegal border crossings in the last five days.
“I can’t understand why anyone would side with President Biden and keep the border open,” he said. “We’ll see when the vote comes. If these people vote that way, you should ask them this question.”