Senators returned to Washington on Monday with scant sign of the elusive spending breakthrough that will be needed to avoid a partial government shutdown at the end of the day Friday.
Agencies covered under the Agriculture, Energy-Water, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD bills would see their funding lapse Saturday unless a deal can be reached, although in reality Monday morning when federal workers would otherwise report to work is when any impacts would be felt.
Appropriators are still aiming to get final fiscal 2024 appropriations for the first slate of bills done by Friday, sources familiar with the talks say. But time is running short, and lawmakers are working on stopgap funding extensions as a backup plan, sources say.
