The threat of a federal government shutdown intensified after House Democrats voted down a Trump-backed funding extension for the second time. Without bipartisan agreement, agencies and services could face major disruptions as early as Tuesday at midnight.
Republicans had pushed a short-term spending bill to maintain government operations without new policy changes. Democrats rejected the move, insisting on inclusion of funding for healthcare programs, expanded subsidies, and protections for vulnerable populations.
With the clock ticking, lawmakers from both sides are under mounting pressure to deliver a viable compromise—or face the consequences of shuttered federal operations and mounting uncertainty across the nation.