With the deadline looming on Saturday, November 18, at 12:01 am, the nation is on the brink of a shutdown
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
As the United States nears a potential government shutdown, House Speaker Mike Johnson is proposing a unique approach to averting the crisis and ensuring federal workers don't go without pay just before Thanksgiving.
With the deadline approaching at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, November 18, the nation is on the brink of a shutdown unless Congress passes legislation to extend federal funding.
Here is a comprehensive overview of the situation and critical elements related to the impending government shutdown:
Shutdown dynamics
A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to approve funding for federal agencies, resulting in unpaid work for some key federal workers while others are furloughed until the agencies reopen.
However, members of Congress continue to receive their paychecks.
Shutdown date
The government will close on Saturday 18 November at 00:01.
Cause
The current threat stems from the extension of funding through this weekend following a continuing resolution (CR) passed in September.
The impasse is largely tied to a deal struck between President Biden and then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy to raise the federal debt ceiling, sparking disagreements over spending levels.
Speaker design
Speaker Mike Johnson is proposing a two-tiered interim bill, or "laddered" CR, that would fund specific federal agencies by different dates in January and February.
The aim of the proposal is to buy time for the discussion of the annual expenditure accounts.
Next steps
The House is set to take up a "ladder" funding bill on Tuesday, with the Senate likely to vote later in the week.
Senate Majority Leader Schumer expressed optimism about Johnson's proposal.
Possible impacts
A government shutdown would affect most federal workers, with hundreds of thousands facing unpaid leave.
The exception is public safety workers, who would continue to work without pay.
Postal services and Social Security payments are expected to continue, but other areas such as food stamp payments and checks may be disrupted.
Recent shutdown history
The most recent government shutdown occurred for 34 days from December 2018 to January 2019, primarily due to disputes over funding for the US-Mexico border wall.
As the clock ticks down, the nation is watching closely to see if Congress can reach a deal to avert a government shutdown and mitigate the potential economic fallout.
