"Congress Faces Looming Shutdown Deadline Amid Funding Deal Uncertainty"

With a funding deal still out of reach, Congress faces the potential for a partial government shutdown as the January 19 deadline approaches. While a two-step plan passed in November extends funding for some federal departments until February 2, negotiations are ongoing to avert a shutdown. If a deal is not reached, various departments such as Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and Energy could face disruptions in their operations, impacting services such as health care, transportation, housing assistance, nutrition programs, and energy activities. The Biden administration remains confident that an agreement will be reached, but preparations for a potential shutdown are underway, including the release of shutdown guidance to federal agencies.