Impending Shutdown Imminent as Divided House Republicans Depart from Capitol

With less than 10 days until the US government potentially shuts down, a spending effort by congressional Republicans has failed for the second time this week. US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy expressed the divide within his party, stating that some members "just want to burn the whole place down." Despite previously indicating that the House would work through the weekend, members were released on Thursday, revealing that there aren't enough votes to keep the government funded. The deadline for funding approval is midnight on September 30th, causing concern as federal government agencies run out of funding. The Republican-controlled House must pass spending measures that satisfy the Democrat-controlled Senate and President Joe Biden. However, a growing ideological split between moderate House Republicans and hard-right members has intensified as the deadline approaches. The hard-right faction is demanding spending cuts and rejecting funding for the war in Ukraine. They have even threatened to remove McCarthy from the speaker's office if he strikes deals to move forward. Responding to these demands, McCarthy announced that there isn't enough time to accommodate a joint session for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. With a slim majority in the House, McCarthy has little room for error. On Wednesday, Republicans seemingly reached an agreement on a $1.5tn spending measure that included border funding and a commission to address the national debt. McCarthy proceeded with a defense spending bill as a sign that the internal chaos had resolved. However, the illusion of consensus shattered on Thursday when five Republicans joined Democrats in defeating the bill's advancement for a vote. McCarthy expressed frustration, calling this group a "whole new concept of individuals that just want to burn the whole place down." Lawmakers were initially informed that they would work over the weekend, but after the failed vote, it was announced that no further business would be conducted this week. This has left many legislators frustrated, as it seems there is no clear path to fund the government. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries described the situation as a "civil war" that hinders Congress from doing its work and solving problems for Americans. McCarthy's predicament is further complicated by Senate leaders from both parties who are advocating for a bill that funds the government and provides more assistance to Ukraine. Consequently, the fractured House Republican conference may need to compromise or seek support from their Democratic counterparts before a spending bill can be sent to President Biden for approval.