If Congress does not take action, a government shutdown will commence at midnight on Friday, potentially furloughing thousands of federal workers just before Christmas and Hanukkah.

On Thursday, the House rejected a proposal supported by President-elect Donald Trump that would have prevented the government from closing, with numerous Republicans siding with Democrats to vote against it.

This rejected bill was a revised version of a bipartisan plan intended to avert a government shutdown, known as a continuing resolution, which Trump and his supporters had previously undermined earlier in the week.

Stay updated with the YSL News Network’s coverage as lawmakers hustle to prevent a significant shutdown during the holiday season.

Chip Roy Responds to Trump’s Criticism

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, dismissed Trump’s posts on Truth Social that labeled him as “weak and ineffective,” suggesting challenges to his position in upcoming primaries.

“It’s just politics. It’s a rough game. my life doesn’t revolve around having a position,” Roy stated on Friday. “My focus is on achieving success for the American public and serving my constituents.”

Roy expressed his outrage towards a temporary spending bill introduced by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., proclaiming he was “completely appalled” during a passionate speech on the House floor on Thursday.

He was among the 38 Republicans in the House who opposed Trump and aligned with Democrats to vote against the proposal. − Sudiksha Kochi

GOP Prepares for New Voting Attempt

House Republicans are devising a new strategy.

They plan to reintroduce the same bill from last night, which proposes government funding through March 14, along with disaster relief and agricultural assistance, but without the debt ceiling extension that President-elect Trump had sought.

“Ultimately, we will find a way to make this happen,” Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., stated confidently.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., suggested a separate vote on each component of the bill. He voiced his dissatisfaction with House Speaker Mike Johnson and vowed not to endorse him for Speaker next year.

“He suggests ideas that are ineffective, leaving us wandering in circles until he finds something Hakeem would agree with,” he said, referring to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., the Democratic minority leader.

Jeffries informed his colleagues earlier that morning that Democrats were finally included in the negotiations. House Democrats are convening soon to discuss the latest plan.

Is Trump supporting the new plan? “We’re currently working on that,” Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., responded.

− Riley Beggin

‘We’ll see’: Top Democratic Leader Awaits Republican Decision

House Republicans are in closed-door meetings to formulate a fresh strategy for keeping the government funded and operational.

In the meantime, Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., who leads the House Democratic caucus, remarked that Democrats are on standby while Republicans seem entangled in their own disputes.

“Let’s see what they bring to a vote,” Aguilar mentioned. “We are aiming for a bipartisan solution. We previously had a bipartisan proposal, and they should proceed with that. It would be the simplest route ahead.”

The original plan, proposed by House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday, garnered support from both parties but was ultimately rejected after opposition from Trump and allies like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

— Savannah Kuchar

White House Confirms There’s Still Opportunity for Agreement

The White House indicated on Friday that there remains a chance for Congress to pass a bill that can prevent a government shutdown.

“We still believe there is ample time for Republicans to fulfill their responsibilities, come to an agreement, and work towards a bipartisan solution,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during her first and only press conference of the week.

She expressed, “Our priority is to ensure the government remains operational.”

President Joe Biden has primarily adopted a hands-off stance regarding the ongoing negotiations and has not publicly addressed the possibility of a government shutdown. Nonetheless, he has communicated with Democratic leaders in Congress, according to his press secretary. She mentioned that he had discussions with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both Democrats from New York.

Regarding Biden’s decision to stay out, she indicated that the chaos was instigated by billionaire Elon Musk and president-elect Donald Trump and that it was now House Speaker Mike Johnson’s responsibility to handle the issue.

“They must resolve it. It is their situation to address,” Jean-Pierre remarked, referring to the Republicans.

The White House additionally informed federal workers at risk of paycheck disruption that a government shutdown might be on the horizon.

“Agencies began alerting their employees about possible furloughs as of noon today,” Jean-Pierre stated during her briefing.

She directed inquiries about the details of potential furloughs to the Office of Management and Budget.

During a shutdown, federal employees classified as nonessential will be prohibited from working and will not receive salaries until a spending bill is approved and enacted.

Will VA disability compensation be impacted by a government shutdown?

Military veterans concerned about their benefits and medical services need not worry, as these payments and services will proceed as normal. A contingency plan issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs earlier this year ensures that veterans will have continued access to healthcare, benefits, and memorial services.

The VA conducted an assessment earlier this year on how past government shutdowns affected the department, discovering that some benefits and payments experienced delays.

To prevent similar delays in the event of another government shutdown, the department updated its contingency plan, identifying essential operations and programs that will maintain functionality through advance appropriations.

However, certain services vital to veterans, such as some education and job training programs and support for veteran-owned businesses, may be temporarily halted.

The plan also indicated that the vast majority of VA personnel, approximately 96%, would either be fully funded or mandated to report for work during a shutdown. This translates to about 18,000 of the roughly 458,000 employees in the department potentially facing furloughs, meaning they would not work and would not receive paychecks.

— Eric Lagatta

House Republicans meet

House Republicans are convening to discuss their third strategy to keep the government operational.

House leaders propose holding separate votes on the critical components of the initial agreement or passing the same bill that failed last night but without the debt ceiling proposal.

To address Trump’s debt ceiling demands, they are considering raising the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion in the initial reconciliation package while cutting $2.5 trillion in overall spending during the reconciliation process.

The current situation is highly dynamic, and it remains uncertain how much backing either option will receive from GOP members.

– Riley Beggin

How would a shutdown impact border operations?

Should the federal government shut down on Friday, U.S. border crossings will remain operational, and border agents will continue their duties through the holiday period – albeit without pay for the time being. Nearly 75% of Homeland Security staff are designated as essential and will continue working, even if Congress fails to reach a financial agreement.

At the U.S. northern and southern borders, around 19,000 Border Patrol agents will be required to report for duty. Most agents patrol the expansive U.S.-Mexico border area, overseeing field stations, interior checkpoints, and temporary holding centers while intercepting smugglers and migrants crossing illegally.

Additionally, approximately 25,000 U.S. customs officers will be necessary at around 300 land and air ports of entry. At land ports, these officers manage the daily flow of tens of thousands of residents, workers, and students while processing billions of dollars in trade. Customs officers act as a “last line of defense” against the smuggling of illegal drugs like fentanyl, weapons and ammunition, migrants, or agricultural goods that could pose a risk to the U.S. food supply, according to Gustavo “Gus” Sánchez, president of the local chapter of the National Treasury Employees Union representing customs officers.

CBP essential personnel are preparing for a shutdown that could disrupt their financial situation and impact their holiday arrangements.

“We feel like pawns,” he commented.

Potential agreement emerging

House Republicans have a preliminary plan to amend the funding extension into separate bills for individual voting.

The bills will likely require approval from the House Rules Committee to be passed by a simple majority vote, setting up a comprehensive House vote on the legislation anticipated for tomorrow.

The proposed bill will probably encompass measures to avert a shutdown, $100 billion in disaster relief funding for hurricane recovery, and $10 billion Support for farmers facing challenges from climate change and inflation is being discussed.

Lawmakers are currently working on a strategy to manage an increase in the debt limit, aiming to reach an agreement to raise the debt ceiling as part of a reconciliation package expected next year. This is the procedural approach Republicans intend to adopt to advance significant portions of President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda.

– Riley Beggin

A significant number of Republicans oppose Trump, reject spending bill

With nearly 12 hours remaining until Congress must fund the government, Republicans are having difficulty coming together, even on a proposal that has President-elect Donald Trump’s support. Last night, 38 representatives voted against the temporary funding resolution, joining 197 Democratic representatives in opposition.

Notable dissenters included Texas Rep. Chip Roy, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, and Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar.

Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, who voted against the funding agreement last night, informed reporters that he stands behind a new agreement made by House Republicans.

— Sam Woodward

Will a government shutdown impact my flight or cruise?

The answer is no.

Although funding for agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, and Customs and Border Protection would be paused, the personnel you usually encounter at airports and seaports, along with air traffic controllers, are considered essential and will continue to work without pay during the shutdown.

The effects on these agencies are primarily associated with hiring and training processes. All critical safety functions, such as inspections and air traffic management, will carry on as usual.

Operations at consulates within the U.S. and overseas will proceed normally, provided there are enough fees to support them, according to the most current guidance from the State Department. This includes services like passports, visas, and assistance for American citizens abroad.

There may be broader economic impacts; a government shutdown could cost the nation’s travel sector as much as $140 million each day, based on estimates from the U.S. Travel Association.

-Zach Wichter, Nathan Diller

Donald Trump has experience with government shutdowns

If the federal government were to cease operations at midnight on Friday, it would mark the fourth shutdown during Donald Trump’s leadership of the Republican Party prompted by budget disputes.

The decision by the Republican president-elect to block a short-term funding proposal, which would have maintained government operations beyond his inauguration and into March, has instead brought the nation close to another shutdown and revived a sense of familiarity among Americans who have witnessed this before.

During Trump’s first term, the government experienced three shutdowns, including a lengthy 35-day shutdown stretching from 2018 to early 2019, which is the longest in U.S. history.

–Michael Collins

Norman announces House GOP has reached a funding agreement

Rep. Ralph Norman from South Carolina told reporters that the House GOP has come to a funding agreement he supports but did not provide any additional information.

He noted that the House Rules Committee would convene in about an hour to progress the bill through the committee, aiming to avoid the need for a two-thirds majority to pass without a rule.

– Riley Beggin

Democrats remain steadfast

Democrats are adamant about not compromising on a government funding agreement that has shifted from a bipartisan arrangement to a partisan battle just days ahead of the shutdown deadline. Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., stated her willingness to remain until Christmas to ensure that “Elon Musk does not control the government.” “We had a bipartisan agreement – we should adhere to it,” she expressed.

– Riley Beggin

Trump urges lawmakers to finalize their spending disagreements

President-elect Donald Trump has urged lawmakers to resolve their disagreements regarding spending levels while Joe Biden is still in office, so his administration bears responsibility for the approaching government shutdown.

“If there is to be a government shutdown, let it start now, under the Biden Administration, not after January 20th, under ‘TRUMP.’ This is a problem for Biden to handle, but Republicans can step in to assist!” he wrote on his social media account.

A bipartisan agreement that was being developed earlier in the week was abandoned after Trump, incoming Vice President JD Vance of Ohio, and billionaire Elon Musk urged Republican legislators to reject it through public pressure.

Trump suggested on Wednesday that lawmakers should raise the debt ceiling now, so it is completed during his predecessor’s presidency.

The White House has accused Republicans of politicizing the spending legislation that is crucial to pass by Friday to prevent a federal shutdown.

–Francesca Chambers

Speaker Johnson claims, ‘We have a strategy’

Yesterday, House Republicans faced a significant setback in their diminished funding extension that also included a debt ceiling increase. House Speaker Mike Johnson arrived at the Capitol a little while ago, informing reporters to anticipate another vote later this morning. “Stay tuned, we’ve got a strategy,” he remarked.

Little information has been made available regarding this strategy. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna from Florida stated on X early Friday morning that they are “following Trump’s strategy” and have no intentions to “negotiate with Democrats.” Democrats continue to control the U.S. Senate and the White House and have firmly stated they will not accept the Republicans’ latest proposal, urging them to return to the earlier agreed deal, which included a funding extension, $100 billion for disaster relief, aid for farmers, and additional policies.

– Riley Beggin

What occurs during a government shutdown?

During a government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees designated as nonessential would be furloughed, meaning they would not report to work and would not receive pay.

Employees classified as essential for critical operations in sectors such as defense, energy, agriculture, and more would still work, albeit without compensation. However, under a law enacted in 2019, all federal workers would receive retroactive pay later.

Nearly 2 million federal employees operate across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as per data from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

– Eric Lagatta

Transportation: TSA and air traffic controllers will continue operations

Your holiday travel plans are unlikely to be affected.

Transportation Security Administration personnel responsible for airport security and air traffic controllers will be required to continue their duties.

Nonetheless, during previous shutdowns, several airports have faced issues with high absenteeism, which led to the suspension of some services. Furthermore, the TSA would not be able to recruit new airport security personnel throughout the peak holiday travel period.

– Eric Lagatta

What happens to Social Security during a government shutdown?

In the event of a government shutdown, specific federal agencies persist in their operations because certain employees are classified as “essential.” This includes vital services such as air traffic control, border security, law enforcement, emergency medical services, and the maintenance of the power grid, according to the nonprofit and nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Among the agencies and programs that keep functioning due to their mandatory funding being independent of annual congressional appropriations are Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

Social Security is insulated from the budget process because it has “dedicated funding,” explained Craig Copeland, who leads wealth benefits research at the Employee Benefit Research Institute. “All that money is readily available for disbursement. It doesn’t require new appropriations. Your checks will continue to be issued.”

– Mike Snider