Shutdown fears return in the US as funding bill stalls in Senate

Washington (The Uttam Hindu): The United States is once again facing the risk of a government shutdown, as the funding bill remains stuck in the Senate due to the lack of consensus among lawmakers. With no clear agreement in sight, the possibility of a partial shutdown is growing, raising concerns about disruptions to government operations.

The deadlock has created fresh hurdles for a proposed deal aimed at ensuring uninterrupted funding for federal agencies. If a resolution is not reached within the stipulated time, several government functions could be affected. Lawmakers are racing against the clock to prevent a repeat of past disruptions.

It is worth recalling that in October last year, the US government experienced a 43-day shutdown after a funding bill failed to pass, marking the longest shutdown in the country’s history. Under the current proposal, Democrats and President Donald Trump had agreed on pushing a spending bill through Congress to secure funding for key sectors, including defence, healthcare, and other essential government programmes.

The agreement also included continued discussions on setting new limits related to the Trump administration’s immigration policy. However, objections raised by some lawmakers late Thursday night have slowed the process. The Senate is scheduled to reconvene at 11 a.m. local time, while the deadline to avert a shutdown expires at midnight.

If the Senate approves the agreement, the bill will then move to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives for final passage.