Federal government faces potential shutdown this Saturday

The federal government is facing a potential shutdown starting at 12:01 AM ET on Saturday. If it occurs, federal workers will be furloughed until Congress passes a spending bill. Essential services, like border protection and law enforcement, will continue to operate. The Trump administration has removed previous guidance on shutdown procedures, raising concerns about how it would affect federal workers. Democrats argue that cuts made by Trump and Musk have already weakened government functions, making a shutdown less impactful. Senate Democrats are pushing for a short-term funding bill to negotiate a longer-term solution, but Republicans are unlikely to agree. Some Senate Democrats may vote for the funding bill despite concerns about its implications for government operations.