Federal Government Shutdown Set to Begin

Washington faces a looming government shutdown as disagreements over the debt ceiling intensify. President-elect Donald Trump has demanded a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling, coupling it with a government funding bill that was rejected by the House, leaving future steps uncertain. Trump’s intervention has compounded the crisis, with Republicans scrambling to engineer a new plan before the deadline. A proposed short-term spending bill by Speaker Mike Johnson has been met with resistance from conservatives who criticize it as a bloated omnibus. Amidst this political turmoil, a federal shutdown could furlough hundreds of thousands of workers just before the holidays. The situation remains fluid as lawmakers race against time to prevent the shutdown.