Shutdown Looms; Pentagon Furloughs, ACA Subsidies at Risk

A U.S. federal government shutdown is set to begin at midnight Tuesday if Congress does not pass a funding bill, and President Donald Trump will host Democratic leaders Monday in a last-ditch effort to avert a lapse. Democrats are demanding extensions of Affordable Care Act tax credits and reversals of proposed health-care cuts in exchange for votes, while Republicans are pushing a short-term continuing resolution that would largely maintain current spending. The White House Office of Management and Budget has ordered agencies to draw up lists of employees to fire if funding lapses, and Pentagon guidance would furlough about 406,573 civilian Defense Department workers, with uniformed personnel continuing to work without pay. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office warns as many as 4.2 million Americans could lose ACA subsidies if expirations are not addressed. A shutdown would raise the prospect of widespread furloughs, missed paychecks, and temporary closures of federal services and national parks.