U.S government heading for a shutdown beginning at 11:59 p.m. on Friday; here's what you need to know and how it will affect Americans

The US government might face a potential shutdown that will begin at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, the New York Post reported.

This followed after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that most Senate Democrats will not vote for the House Republican-approved bill to pay for the federal government through the end of September, the New York Times reported.

Chuck Schumer Accuses Republicans of Partisan Tactics

Schumer accused the Republicans of writing the spending bill, also referred to as the continuing resolution (CR), without consulting the Democrats, as per the report. According to him, government funding ought to be a bipartisan approach, but the Republicans decided to go ahead with a partisan plan.


He claimed that, “Because of that, Republicans do not have the votes in the Senate to invoke cloture on the House CR. Our caucus is unified on a clean [CR through April 11] that will keep the government open and give Congress time to negotiate bipartisan legislation that can pass,” the New York Post quoted.

While Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and the bill requires 60 votes to break a filibuster, it will need at least seven Democrats to support the spending bill, according to the New York Post.

House Speaker Warns of Shutdown Responsibility

After the bill was passed by the House, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) claimed that the lower chamber of Congress would recess until March 24, as per the report.

Schumer would have an option of either accepting the House bill or rejecting it. If he rejects that would put the nation’s capital on course for the 11th partial government shutdown since 1980, the New York Post reported.

Johnson said that it is, “decision time for Senate Democrats: Cast a vote to keep the government open or be responsible for shutting it down,” the New York Post reported.

Senate Democrats Weigh the Risks of a Shutdown

However, Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) explained that, “If you shut down the government, the president is the person who decides what is essential,” as the New York Post quoted. Hickenlooper also warned that, “He decides what part of the government stays open, so you are actually giving him even more power,” the New York Post quoted.

While a GOP adviser claimed that "if the CR fails to clear the Senate by late Friday, it will be a Dem-engineered shutdown,” as quoted in the report.

Even Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), the only House Democrat, who voted in favour of the CR in the lower chamber, said that, “Even a brief shutdown would introduce even more chaos and uncertainty at a time when our country can ill-afford it,” as quoted by New York Post.

Clarifying Claims

Golden also pushed back against claims from his own party that the continuing resolution would slash funding for vital social programs, according to the report.

He clarified that, “There are no cuts to veterans care in the period covered by this bill, and we have six months to ensure funding continues into the next fiscal year,” as quoted by New York Post. He also mentioned that, “To say this bill contains cuts is, at best, a misreading that creates unnecessary fear among veterans," as quoted in the report.

FAQs

Is the US government shutting down?
The US government is at risk of a shutdown starting at 11:59 p.m. on Friday unless Congress can reach an agreement on funding.

What’s in the CR bill?
It is a continuing resolution (CR) bill, to fund the government through the end of September, the New York Post reported.