Updated 20:53 | Published 8:30 p.m
In just a few hours, the US could be paused.
The Senate and the House of Representatives have not been able to agree on a new budget.
Instead, they have voted yes to a temporary budget that will be valid for 45 days.
At midnight local time at the latest, that is at 06 Swedish time, the parties in the US Congress must agree.
But it has proven difficult. Democrats hold a majority in the Senate, while Republicans hold a majority in the House of Representatives.
In order to gain time, they have tried to agree on a transitional budget, which should be able to keep the US state apparatus running for a few weeks.
No Ukaina support?
At the last minute, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, announced a new vote.
It is about a temporary budget that will give 45 days before the state apparatus is shut down.
But the proposal does not contain support for Ukraine, which has been a burning issue in the negotiations, reports AP. And then it will hardly be approved by the Democrats.
Split among Republicans
Meanwhile, Speaker McCarthy’s own job is in jeopardy.
The vote in the House of Representatives requires a two-thirds majority to pass in the chamber. This means that the Republicans need help from the Democrats.
Republicans on the right have refused to support the speaker’s budget proposal — and threatened to oust him if he relies on Democratic votes to prevent a shutdown.
May be forced to work for free
The shutdown, which is now fast approaching, will have major consequences for millions of Americans.
Those who work in critical activities such as the military and the judiciary can be forced to work for free.
Hundreds of thousands of other state employees are being laid off – and are not getting paid either.
Drinking water can also be affected. The US Environmental Protection Agency EPA will cut back on “most” inspections of hazardous waste sites as well as drinking water and chemical facilities, according to CNN.
Shut down for 35 days
If it goes as expected, it will not be the first time that the federal state apparatus has been shut down after failed budget negotiations.
Since 1981, it has happened a total of 14 times, writes TT. The longest lasted 35 days at the turn of the year 2018–2019 – and hit government employees hard.
– They stood in line at food banks, took their children out of childcare, couldn’t fill up their cars and begged lenders for mercy. This is not how America should treat its employees, says Doreen Greenwald, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents government employees.