Government Shutdown Looms Ahead of Midnight Deadline

With talks stalled and no agreement expected before the midnight funding deadline, a U.S. government shutdown appears imminent, threatening furloughs for hundreds of thousands of federal workers and interruptions to many public services. Democrats say any short-term funding must restore Affordable Care Act subsidies and undo health-care cuts enacted earlier this year, while House Republican leaders are pushing a stopgap measure that would extend funding only through Nov. 21. Because Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress, many commentators say political responsibility for a shutdown and its effects will fall on them despite efforts by figures such as Vice President JD Vance to shift blame. Some Republicans, including Rep. Dusty Johnson, are urging a six-week continuing resolution to keep the government open while negotiations continue. Critics warn the White House may be treating a shutdown as leverage or as a means to advance a broader plan to shrink federal agencies (linked to Project 2025), provoking sharp backlash.