Lawmakers Facing Deadline to Stop Government Shutdown

Lawmakers are once again approaching the deadline to avoid a government shutdown. Officials have until midnight tomorrow to finalize a stopgap measure or funding will run out and so far congressional leaders have not been able to secure a deal. Currently the only way to avoid a shutdown would be if all 100 senators agreed to schedule a vote before the deadline. One of the major reasons a deal has yet to be met is that Democrats and Republicans disagree over how long the funding extension should last and negotiators are facing a separate demand from Senate conservatives who are also demanding a vote to defund the vaccine mandate. Lawmakers set the December 3rd deadline for themselves earlier this year when both chambers voted to extend it and President Biden signed that measure into law at the end of September.