Congress Races Against the Clock to Avert Government Shutdown: Will They Make It?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. 

House of Representatives and Senate are working urgently to pass a $1.2 trillion bill to fund the government through September and avoid a shutdown before midnight on Friday. 

This bill, spanning over 1,012 pages, covers a range of agencies, including the Defense Department, Homeland Security, IRS, and Justice Department, among others.

If successful, this effort will mark the end of a more-than-six-month battle over Washington's spending for the fiscal year that began on October 1. 

However, failure to pass the bill would lead to a partial shutdown, resulting in thousands of federal workers being furloughed nationwide and abroad.

"This bill funds our highest national security priorities," said Republican House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger in a statement on Thursday, highlighting the bipartisan nature of the deal. 

The bill includes $886 billion for the Defense Department and adds to the national debt, which currently stands at nearly $34.6 trillion.

Despite bipartisan support, not all Republicans are on board. 

The hardline House Freedom Caucus criticized the bill, citing its high cost, continuation of the Biden border crisis, and inclusion of what they called "woke" earmarks. 

Earmarks are special spending requests sought by individual members of Congress for projects in their home states or districts.

There is also a separate issue brewing in Congress regarding final passage of a $95 billion security assistance package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, which has bipartisan support except for House Speaker Mike Johnson. 

Some Republicans are hesitant to continue backing Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

Conservative Republicans in the Senate may further delay passage of the bill by demanding debate on a series of amendments. 

However, most Republicans, wary of triggering a government shutdown, have avoided such actions, especially with the November elections looming.

The last government shutdown occurred during the Trump administration, lasting from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, over funding for a border wall. 

Rating agencies have cautioned that repeated brinkmanship over government funding could harm the U.S. government's creditworthiness.

If a shutdown were to occur, most Border Patrol and immigration agents would continue working, but new aid for sheltering migrants might be delayed. 

Federal workers, including U.S. soldiers and astronauts aboard the International Space Station, would not be paid until new funding is enacted. 

National parks would be closed, and many other government operations would cease, although the IRS would continue processing tax returns due on April 15.