Congress moves into crisis mode with US government shutdown just days away
- The US faces a damaging government shutdown, with hard-right Republicans blocking attempts to pass a budget
- A major sticking point has been a request for additional American aid for Ukraine’s war effort against Russia
With a US government shutdown possible on October 1, Congress is moving into crisis mode as Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces an insurgency from hard-right Republicans eager to slash spending even if it means curtailing federal services for millions of Americans.
There’s no clear path ahead as lawmakers return with tensions high and options limited. The House is expected to vote Tuesday evening (Wednesday morning Hong Kong time) on a package of bills to fund parts of the government, but it’s not at all clear that McCarthy has the support needed to move ahead.
Meanwhile, the Senate, trying to stave off a federal closure, is preparing its own bipartisan plan for a stopgap measure to buy some time and keep offices funded past Saturday’s deadline as work in Congress continues.
But plans to tack on additional Ukraine aid have run into trouble as a number of Republicans in both the House and Senate oppose spending more money on the war effort.
Against the mounting chaos, US President Joe Biden warned the Republican conservatives off their hardline tactics, saying funding the federal government is “one of the most basic fundamental responsibilities of Congress”.