Lawmakers in the United States are facing a major challenge as they return to Congress, with no clear resolution in sight for a dispute that could potentially result in a partial government shutdown. Republicans in the House of Representatives have been unable to pass legislation that would keep the government open beyond the start of the new fiscal year on October 1st. Meanwhile, the Democratic-controlled Senate is working on a stopgap funding bill, but it may take several days for a final vote to be reached. If a spending bill is not signed into law by President Joe Biden by Sunday, hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be left without funding.

This deadlock comes just months after Congress narrowly avoided a default on the country’s massive debt. The situation has raised concerns on Wall Street, as the Moody’s ratings agency has warned that it could potentially damage the creditworthiness of the United States. The current impasse is the result of a group of Republicans pressing for stricter immigration policies and deeper spending cuts, going against levels agreed upon during the debt-ceiling standoff earlier this year. Despite the defeat of legislation reflecting these demands, other Republicans are frustrated and believe that an opportunity to advance conservative policies has been missed.

As the Senate prepares for a procedural vote to extend government funding through November 17th, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has suggested that Democrats may need to be relied upon to help pass a stopgap bill. This could potentially lead to a challenge to McCarthy’s leadership from hardliners within the party. However, even if the bill is passed, the differences between the two chambers would need to be resolved before it is sent to President Biden for approval. One point of contention is the inclusion of $6 billion in Ukraine aid in the Senate’s bill, which McCarthy opposes. Efforts to find a way out of this situation continue, but a resolution is yet to be found.

In conclusion, the ongoing infighting among Republicans in the House of Representatives has led to a stalemate that could result in a partial government shutdown. The Democratic-controlled Senate is working on a temporary funding bill, but final passage could be delayed until next week. If a spending bill is not signed into law by Sunday, federal employees will be left without funding. The situation has raised concerns about the country’s creditworthiness and has highlighted the disagreements within the Republican party. Efforts are being made to find a resolution, but challenges remain, including the need to reconcile differences between the two chambers and potential opposition to the bill from hardliners within the Republican party.

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