Will the government shut down next week?

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – A government shutdown is looming, and Congress remains at an impasse on how to avoid that scenario.

Friday the federal government began the process of formally preparing for a shutdown.

“The clock is ticking, and so what do we do next,” said Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.).

Congress returns to Washington Monday with a handful of federal agencies set to shutter March 1 and the rest on March 8 leaving lawmakers little time to broker a deal.

“I hope we can do that. I don’t think anybody wants to see, you know, a quote unquote, government shutdown here, but we’ve got to actually move towards a regular appropriations process,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.)

A shutdown would close all but the most essential functions of the government along with shuttering national parks and museums.

Both sides have tried to assure the public a shutdown won’t happen but that’s appearing less likely.

“Do you want to close Mt Rushmore so the southern border can stay open?” asked Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.).

Hard right Republicans are pressuring Speaker Mike Johnson to reject any government funding bill that doesn’t include new border security protections.

“You either secure the southern border or you get no money for the government,” Donalds added.

Even some Democrats who support border reform say the disruptions caused by a government shutdown aren’t worth the fight.

“It is so challenging to get anything done in Congress because I work with Republican colleagues who simply don’t want to fix things,” said Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas.).

A bipartisan spending deal could be released by Sunday but it’s not clear whether Speaker Johnson would accept it, or cave to the demands of hard right Republicans and reject it.

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