Government shutdown fear grows as McCarthy lays out partisan vote plan
The federal government is due to shut down operations early Sunday if Congress does not approve a funding bill that President Joe Biden signs.
Konoly
U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks during a press briefing about a looming shutdown of the U.S. government at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. September 29, 2023.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
WASHINGTON — With fewer than two days left to fund the federal government and avoid a shutdown, House Republican leaders said the chamber would vote Friday on a partisan, short-term spending bill that has no chance of passing in the Senate.
GOP Speaker Kevin McCarthy pitched the bill as a way for Republicans to buy time to pass a slate of individual agency spending bills.
"We actually need a stop-gap measure to allow the House to continue to finish its work, to make sure our military gets paid, to make sure our border agents get paid as we finish the job that we're supposed to do," McCarthy told reporters.
The bill ostensibly would fund the government through Oct. 31, but has effectively no chance of passing the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, or of being signed by President Joe Biden.
The government is scheduled to shut down at 12:01 a.m. ET Sunday if a funding bill is not approved by Congress and Biden.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
