The U.S. House and Senate face a high-stakes spending battle with just five days left before a potential government shutdown
The Democratic-controlled Senate plans to vote on a stopgap funding bill with bipartisan support to keep the government running temporarily
Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy intends to push forward with four full-year spending bills reflecting conservative priorities, despite slim chances of becoming law
If an agreement isn't reached, hundreds of thousands of federal workers may be furloughed, and various services, including economic data releases and nutrition benefits, will be suspended
The National Zoo in Washington may have to curtail its farewell party for three giant pandas if a shutdown occurs
Congress has shut down the government 14 times since 1981, but most shutdowns have been short-lived and haven't significantly impacted the economy
Moody's warns that a shutdown could negatively affect the U.S. government's AAA credit rating, highlighting worsening political polarization
President Joe Biden and McCarthy had previously agreed on discretionary spending levels, but some Republican lawmakers demand $120 billion in cuts
The U.S. budget for this fiscal year is set at $6.4 trillion, and there are no considerations to cut popular benefit programs like Social Security and Medicare
The House may focus on passing four full-year bills first, even though they won't fund the entire government or prevent a shutdown, potentially leading to a chaotic situation