· 3 min read
illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: With under 24 hours remaining before a potential U.S. government shutdown, negotiations between President Trump and congressional leaders have stalled
• Senate Republicans are pressing Democrats to approve a seven-week funding extension without conditions, but Democrats continue to demand the inclusion of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies and reversals to recent Medicaid cuts
🔭 The context: This would be the first government shutdown of Trump’s second term, stemming from a standoff over health care spending priorities
• Democrats argue that the loss of ACA subsidies could leave millions uninsured, while Republicans accuse them of tying unrelated demands to core funding legislation
• The White House’s budget office has already warned of mass firings and the curtailment of federal services if a deal isn’t reached before the September 30 midnight deadline
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: A federal shutdown would suspend critical environmental and climate programs run by agencies like the EPA, NOAA, and Department of Energy
• It would disrupt permitting reviews, climate resilience projects, public land services, and data collection efforts vital for sustainability planning
• Shutdowns can also delay grant disbursements and halt regulatory enforcement, weakening the implementation of environmental safeguards
⏭️ What's next: Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader John Thune, plan to keep bringing the GOP stopgap funding bill to a vote in an attempt to increase pressure on Democrats
• The bill would fund the government until late November but omits Democratic demands on healthcare
• With both sides entrenched and time running out, a brief shutdown is increasingly likely
• Republicans believe Democrats will relent quickly under public and institutional pressure. If not, furloughs and service disruptions could begin on October 1 even if one occurs, placing Democrats under public and institutional pressure
💬 One quote: “I think the odds are against it right now, and I say that with a lot of regret.” — Senator Peter Welch, Democrat of Vermont
📈 One stat: 49% of U.S. federal workers — roughly 1.1 million employees — could face furloughs if the government shuts down and no exceptions are issued
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