Government Shutdown Looms as Lawmakers Scramble for Deal

Government funding expires at midnight, risking a shutdown and impacting millions of federal workers.

### Government Shutdown Looms: Last-Minute Deal Efforts & Musk's Influence
* ⏳ Lawmakers are racing against time to prevent a government shutdown by midnight, with a previous funding bill failing.
* 🚨 Millions of federal workers face the risk of not receiving paychecks before the holidays due to the stalled bill.
* 🗣️ President-elect Trump wants the shutdown to occur under President Biden's administration, shifting responsibility.
* 🗳️ 38 Republicans voted against the funding bill, adding pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson to find a solution.
* 🗣️ Elon Musk criticized **wasteful spending**, influencing the political dynamics and delaying a bipartisan agreement.
* 💰 President-elect Trump insists on addressing the debt ceiling alongside the funding bill, fearing an economic depression if it's not resolved.
* 💔  The potential shutdown negatively impacts families like Kayla Corbitt's, adding stress during the holiday season.
* 🗳️ House Speaker Mike Johnson is considering separating the bill into votes on government funding, disaster relief ($100 billion), and farmer aid ($10 billion).

The clock is ticking for lawmakers. A live look right now at Capitol Hill as members of the House race to craft a

deal they can pass. A government shutdown is just hours away. Their latest bill failed last night; now millions of

federal workers are at risk of not getting paid right before the holidays. ABC's Perry Russom joins us now live

from Washington with the very latest. Perry?

Yeah, there's a blitz on Capitol Hill right now to get a deal done before

funding runs out at midnight. President-elect Trump says if there's going to be a government shutdown, let it happen

under President Biden. Today, President-elect Trump says if there's going to be a government shutdown, let it

begin now under President Biden, not after he takes office next month. Trump says this is Biden's problem to solve,

adding, "If Republicans can help, they will." It comes after 38 Republicans last night voted against a new funding bill that

was backed by Trump. The bill's failure is increasing pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson to get a deal done.

Lawmakers had been expected to vote on a funding bill with bipartisan support earlier this week, then Elon Musk, one of

Trump's most influential and vocal allies, started criticizing what he called wasteful spending.  "It's time to go

back to the original agreement we had just a few days ago," Trump said overnight.  "There should never be a deal

unless Congress gets rid of or extends the debt ceiling." That's the limit on the amount of money the government can

borrow to pay its debts. Trump is telling ABC News if the debt ceiling is hit and the government can no longer pay its

bills, he's concerned it could lead to an economic depression. Extreme MAGA Republicans are marching America toward a

A painful government shutdown that will crash the economy and hurt working-class Americans. Government funding expires at midnight; millions of federal employees

are at risk of not getting a paycheck days before Christmas. Kayla Corbitt's husband is in the Army, and she helps

military families find child care. This is just not what our families want to be thinking about when they're already

really struggling to get by. Sources tell ABC News House Speaker Mike Johnson is looking to break up the bill into separate votes that

would include individual votes on funding the government, $100 billion for disaster relief, and $10 billion for

Elon Musk weighs in on government funding bill as shutdown looms

ABC7

Lawmakers are racing to avoid a government shutdown within hours.

A previous funding bill failed, jeopardizing pay for millions of federal workers before the holidays.

Intense efforts are underway to reach a deal before funding expires at midnight.

President-elect Trump wants the shutdown to occur under President Biden's administration.

38 Republicans voted against the funding bill, increasing pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Elon Musk criticized wasteful spending, impacting the bill's progress.

Trump advocates for returning to a prior agreement and linking the deal to debt ceiling issues.

Trump expresses concern that hitting the debt ceiling could trigger an economic depression.

Consequences of Shutdown and Public Impact

Extreme Republicans are blamed for potentially crashing the economy and harming working-class Americans.

Millions of federal employees risk missing paychecks before Christmas due to the impending shutdown.

The shutdown impacts military families, adding stress during already difficult times.

House Speaker Mike Johnson considers splitting the bill into separate votes on government funding, disaster relief, and farmer aid.