US government shutdown imminent after Republicans rejection of funding bill

US Republican lawmakers have rejected a stopgap bill proposed by their leader to temporarily fund the Democratic government, pushing the Biden administration on the verge of shutdown.

In a 232-198 vote on Friday, Republicans in the US House of Representatives rejected the stopgap bill proposed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to extend government funding by 30 days in order to reach an agreement on the 2024 fiscal budget and avert the midnight shutdown at 12:01 am ET (0401 GMT) on Sunday.

After the bill failed to gain the necessary vote, McCarthy, who is the majority leader of the House, told reporters at a press briefing on Friday that the budget negotiations will continue until the disputing sides reach an agreement on the 2024 budget. “It’s only a failure if you quit.”

In the meantime, US President Joe Biden warned that a shutdown could take a heavy toll on American troops.

“We can’t be playing politics while our troops stand in the breach. It’s an absolute dereliction of duty,” Biden said at the retirement ceremony of Mark Milley, one of America's top generals who played a leading role in the US-led proxy war by Ukraine against Russia.

He also warned that the shutdown would hit Black Americans disproportionately worse, including by reducing nutritional benefits, cutting inspections of hazardous waste sites, and lack of enforcement of fair housing laws.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned once more on Friday that a government shutdown would do damage and “undermine” the US economy. Lawmakers, however, remain divided over the issue.

“There are members who don’t care whether the government stays open or it shuts down,” Republican Representative Kat Cammack told reporters. “The ones that I believe are OK with a shutdown have never been through a shutdown.”

“What does work is rolling up our sleeves and getting onto these single subject bills and moving them,” Representative Matt Gaetz said on a podcast after voting against the stopgap bill on Friday.

Other Republicans said they would probably have to work with Democrats to pass a stopgap bill that could win approval in the Senate and from Biden. “Some people are missing the obvious,” said Republican Representative Don Bacon.

SS