White House Punts on Shutdown Specifics, Puts Onus on Senate

For a while Tuesday morning, it appeared that Congress and the White House could quickly reach an agreement to avert a partial government shutdown ahead of Friday’s funding deadline. But within hours, negotiators appeared back at square one. Lawmakers have until Dec. 21 to come to an agreement on how to fund the departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, State, Interior, Agriculture, Treasury, Commerce, Homeland Security, and Justice, as well as other independent agencies. Otherwise, most of these entities would be forced to shut down some or all of their operations and furlough at least some employees.