The prospect of a government shutdown has been growing as Congress seeks to pass an appropriations bill before the start of the fiscal year on October 1. With the Senate already having passed a stopgap funding measure to keep the government funded, you need the House of Representatives to pass the same measure to avoid the looming deadline. Time is running out, as lawmakers are rapidly approaching their summer recess and have yet to agree on further steps to avoid the shutdown. Negotiations are ongoing, and both parties are looking for ways to bridge their differences and pass a measure in time. One point of contention is President Trump’s refusal to sign budget legislation that does not contain funding for his border wall, putting the two sides at odds and raising the possibility that the government could be shut down if a deal is not reached before October 1.
