Congress Faces Friday Deadline to Avoid Government Shutdown

The federal government will shut down at midnight on Friday if lawmakers don’t authorize new funding to keep it open. Two months ago Congress passed a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded through December 3, 2021 and give lawmakers more time to produce full-year appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2022, but the proposed legislation lacks the bipartisan support necessary for Senate passage.

Republicans oppose the spending levels, and some controversial policy provisions known as riders, in the Democrats’ appropriations legislation. Democrats want to increase defense spending by 5% and nondefense related spending by 13%. Republicans have rejected those proposals, calling for equal increases in defense and nondefense spending. Republicans have also referred to controversial policy riders, such as those governing abortion, ‘poison pills’ and nonstarters for negotiation.

Lawmakers are currently in negotiations to pass another short-term CR to keep the government funded past Friday

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