00:00In Washington, tensions are rising as the deadline to prevent a government shutdown
00:08looms closer.
00:11With only hours to remain before the government runs out of funding, lawmakers are scrambling
00:18to strike a deal.
00:20The fate of millions of federal employees and crucial public services hangs in the balance.
00:29On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump dismissed a bipartisan compromise that was
00:35reached between Republicans and Democrats.
00:39This agreement was designed to prevent a shutdown, just days before the Christmas-Winter break.
00:47Despite this, Trump pushed for an alternative proposal, a deal that includes a three-month
00:54extension of government funding and a two-year suspension of the debt limit, stretching
01:02all the way into January 2027.
01:08The debt ceiling, the cap on how much the government can borrow, has become a key sticking
01:15point in the negotiations.
01:18Trump's new proposal was quickly rejected by the House of Representatives with a vote
01:24of 175-235.
01:27In a significant setback for Trump and his ally, tech billionaire Elon Musk, the bill
01:34failed to gain support.
01:36Musk had also urged lawmakers to oppose the bipartisan deal, calling it criminal, in a
01:43series of posts on its social media platform X.
01:53Trump's minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, didn't mince words.
01:58He called the Republican proposal laughable.
02:01But the reality is that the House is now left in turmoil, with just hours to pass a spending
02:08bill that would avert a government shutdown.
02:12House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed a message of determination after the failed vote, saying,
02:21We are going to regroup and we will come up with another solution.
02:26So stay tuned.
02:29But if a new deal isn't reached by midnight Friday, the consequences could be severe.
02:36A government shutdown would cause chaos across federal agencies, leaving many public services
02:45disrupted and millions of federal workers unsure of when they will be paid.
02:53Essential services like the FBI, Border Patrol, the Coast Guard would remain open, but travelers
03:01could face long lines at airports as the Transportation Security Administration braces for cuts.
03:09National parks and monuments would close.
03:12And while troops remain at their posts, many civilian employees, especially those in the
03:18Department of Defense, could face fall-offs.
03:23Federal workers would either be sent home or expected to work without pay until the
03:28shutdown ends.
03:30Court systems would be impacted.
03:32The civil proceedings put on hold, though criminal prosecutions would continue.
03:39The Internal Revenue Services would still collect taxes, but it would cease auditing
03:45tax returns.
03:47As Washington grapples with this high-stakes showdown, the question remains, will Congress
03:54reach a deal in time to avoid another shutdown?
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