Temporary authorities shutdown ushered in earlier than Christmas as Senate works to advance Home invoice

A partial authorities shutdown started at 12:01 on Saturday morning after Congress didn’t move a stopgap spending measure earlier than the deadline and ship it to President Biden’s desk.

Nonetheless, the Senate is actively working by modification votes and different concerns so as to ship the measure to Biden. The stopgap invoice is predicted to be handed within the Senate within the coming hours. 

The partial shutdown comes solely days earlier than Christmas and New Yr’s. 

As of Thursday, the U.S. nationwide debt was at $36,167,604,149,955.61 and was persevering with to climb quickly. 

A partial authorities shutdown started at 12:01 on Saturday morning after Congress didn’t move a stopgap spending measure earlier than the deadline. (Picture by Jemal Countess/Getty Pictures)

Throughout a partial authorities shutdown, federal businesses and non-essential providers are stopped, however some features which might be thought of “important” will proceed. Sure nationwide safety features, similar to border patrol, legislation enforcement and catastrophe response, will stay energetic in the course of the shutdown. 

Nonetheless, as a result of the Senate is predicted to maneuver the invoice ahead imminently, the disruption to authorities operate shall be minimal, if in any respect noticeable.

An authentic settlement on a short-term spending invoice was launched earlier within the week, totaling 1,547-pages and together with quite a lot of coverage provisions and catastrophe support. 

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Musk’s public criticism of the invoice preceded Trump’s assertion. (Picture by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Publish by way of Getty Pictures)

However quickly after its launch, billionaire Elon Musk and different conservative critics publicly blasted the measure, finally leading to it being condemned by President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance. 

The preliminary spending measure would have prolonged authorities funding ranges for fiscal yr 2024 by March 14 and supply over $100 billion in catastrophe support for these affected by storms Helene and Milton within the U.S. Southeast earlier this yr. There was additionally a $10 billion provision for financial help to farmers within the invoice. 

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The dimensions of the invoice, together with a number of of its different provisions, together with a value of dwelling elevate for lawmakers, prompted the general public response from Musk and others. 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, co-chair of the newly introduced Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), arrives on Capitol Hill along with his son on Dec. 5, 2024, in Washington, DC.  (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Pictures)

After heading again to the drafting board, Home Republicans emerged on Thursday with a brand new proposal. The revised measure would have prolonged present funding ranges for 3 months and included a debt restrict suspension for 2 years, per the request of Trump. 

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Moreover, it had financial reduction for farmers and about $110 billion in catastrophe support. 

However the invoice failed on the Home flooring Thursday night time as Democrats united in opposition to it and a big group of Republicans opted to oppose it as nicely.

By Friday morning, there seemed to be no settlement between Democrats and Republicans in Congress to work collectively on a brand new invoice. In reality, Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., stated the federal government would go right into a partial shutdown at midnight if Republicans didn’t return to the unique stopgap invoice. 

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Rep. Chip Roy speaks to the media after the Home of Representatives didn’t move a authorities funding invoice on the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 19, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Pictures)

“I am prepared to remain right here by Christmas as a result of we’re not going to let Elon Musk run the federal government,” Murray stated in a press release. 

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The Home managed to move a 3rd model of the spending invoice on Friday. It was much like the second model, together with each financial reduction for farmers and catastrophe support, however didn’t have the debt ceiling suspension that Trump had been adamant about. 

The invoice acquired broad bipartisan assist within the Home and the inexperienced mild from Biden, because the White Home stated he’d assist it. Even Schumer launched a press release after the Home’s passage, saying he was “assured” it will move the Senate.