The partial government shutdown began at 12:01 a.m. Saturday after Congress failed to pass a stopgap spending measure and send it to President Biden’s desk by the deadline.
However, the Senate is actively working to send the bill to Biden through votes on amendments and other considerations. The temporary bill is expected to be passed by the Senate within hours.
The partial closure will take place a few days before Christmas and New Year’s.
As of Thursday, the US national debt is $36,167,604,149,955.61 and continues to increase rapidly.
A partial government shutdown began at 12:01 a.m. Saturday after Congress failed to pass a stopgap spending bill by the deadline. (Photo by: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
During a partial government shutdown, federal agencies and non-essential services will be suspended, but some “essential” functions will continue. Certain national security functions, such as border security, law enforcement, and disaster response, will continue to operate during the closure.
But the Senate is expected to advance the bill soon, so any disruption to government functions will be minimal, if noticeable at all.
The initial agreement on the short-term spending bill, released earlier this week, totals 1,547 pages and includes numerous policy provisions and disaster aid.
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Musk’s public criticism of the bill preceded Trump’s statement. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post, Getty Images)
But soon after the bill was announced, billionaire Elon Musk and other conservative critics publicly denounced it, and ultimately President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D.・This resulted in criticism by Mr. Vance.
The original spending measure would extend fiscal year 2024 government funding levels through March 14 and provide more than $100 billion in disaster relief to those affected by storms Helen and Milton in the southeastern United States earlier this year. Assistance was to be provided. The bill also included $10 billion in economic aid for farmers.
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The size of the bill, along with other provisions such as raising the cost of living for members of Congress, prompted a public reaction from Musk and others.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, co-chair of the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), arrives with his son at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
After going back to square one, House Republicans laid out a new proposal Thursday. The proposed amendment would extend current funding levels by three months and suspend the debt ceiling for two years, as requested by President Trump.
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It also provided economic relief to farmers and approximately $110 billion in disaster relief.
But the bill died in the House Thursday night after Democrats united in opposition and a sizable group of Republicans also chose to oppose it.
By Friday morning, there appeared to be no agreement between Democrats and Republicans in Congress to work together on a new bill. In fact, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) have announced that unless Republicans return to their original stopgap bill, the government will partially shut down in the middle of the night. He said he would enter.
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Congressman Chip Roy speaks to the media after failing to pass government funding legislation at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., December 19, 2024. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“I’m prepared to stay here until Christmas because I’m not going to let Elon Musk run our government,” Murray said in a statement.
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The House successfully passed the third version of the spending bill on Friday. It was similar to the second version, which included both economic relief and disaster assistance for farmers, but did not include suspending the debt ceiling, which President Trump had insisted on.
The bill received broad bipartisan support in the House of Representatives and the green light from Biden, who said the White House supported it. Schumer also released a statement after the House passed the bill, saying he was “confident” it would pass the Senate.
Julia Johnson is a political writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, where she leads coverage of the U.S. Senate. She previously served as a political reporter for the Washington Examiner.
Follow Julia’s reporting on X. @juliaajohnson_ Send your tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.
