As the federal government inched closer to a possible shutdown, House Republicans failed to pass a funding package to avert the looming crisis.
The package was proposed by President Donald Trump and included an extra $5 billion for border wall construction along the U.S.-Mexico border. The House bill was far from the 218 votes needed to pass, with House Speaker Paul Ryan deciding not to hold the vote.
The House package faced heavy criticism from Democrats, who argued that the funding bill was nothing more than an attempt to appease President Trump and his supporters. The package was also opposed by many House Republicans, who saw the extra border spending as a waste of money.
As Congress scrambled to find a solution, President Trump announced that he was willing to sign a budget package with no border wall funds. Despite this offer, Republicans still failed to pass the package.
The government now faces a potential shutdown if no agreement is reached by midnight on Friday. A shutdown would mean a number of government services would be put on hold including national parks, airport security screenings, veterans’ benefits, social security payments, and more.
This battle over funding has brought Washington to a standstill and shows just how much conflict there is between the major political parties. If the Republicans and Democrats can’t come to an agreement before the impending deadline, the entire country could pay the price.