"Lawmakers Near Short-Term Budget Deal to Prevent Government Shutdown"

Lawmakers are close to reaching a partial budget deal to prevent a government shutdown, with negotiations ongoing for six funding bills, four of which expire Friday. If a deal is not reached, a partial shutdown could impact several government agencies, including agriculture, Veterans Affairs, transportation, and housing. While some programs like Medicare and Social Security would remain unaffected, federal employees could face unpaid work and contract workers may not receive back pay. The longer a shutdown persists, the more severe its effects become.