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Government shutdown live updates: House plans to vote on new bill as deadline nears

The federal government is set to run out of money Friday night.

Last Updated: December 20, 2024, 5:26 PM EST

With a government shutdown deadline just hours away, Republican congressional leaders on Friday scrambled to come up with a third spending proposal.

An initial bipartisan deal was tanked earlier this week by President-elect Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk. Then on Thursday night, the House failed to pass a revamped plan that included Trump's explosive demand that the debt limit be extended.

Thousands of federal workers could have to work without pay if a shutdown ensues. Others could be furloughed and many government services could be affected.

12:47 PM EST

Biden speaks with Democratic leaders ahead of potential shutdown: White House

President Joe Biden, who has yet to publicly weigh in on the funding battle, has been in touch with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday.

Jean-Pierre told reporters at the daily briefing that Biden has been getting regular updates about what's unfolding on Capitol Hill.

When pressed on why Biden hasn't spoken out himself, Jean-Pierre said Republicans bear the responsibility to fix this issue.

"Americans need to know that Republicans are getting in the way here, and they are the ones who have created this mess," she said. "That's the reality. That's the fact."

"This is not the first time we've been here, and the president has had this approach before. He understands how Congress works," she continued. "He's been around for some time. He understand what strategy works here to get this done."

12:20 PM EST

Johnson plans to propose individual votes on spending measures: Sources

House Republicans will meet behind closed doors at 12:30 p.m. ET to discuss a new plan to avert a government shutdown -- as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says the “lines of communication have been reopened” with Speaker Mike Johnson.

According to sources, Johnson plans to propose the House take several individual votes on pieces of the slimmed-down agreement that failed on the floor Thursday night, including a continuing resolution to fund the government through March 14, $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers and $100 billion in disaster relief.

Those are the core pillars of the bipartisan proposal that was tanked by Trump and Musk. It’s unclear whether Republicans will make another attempt to take up the debt limit -- Trump’s key demand -- in this latest round of votes.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks to reporters outside of the House Chambers in the U.S. Capitol, on Dec. 19, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

-ABC News' John Parkinson, Lauren Peller, Ben Siegel, Jay O'Brien, Isabella Murray

10:59 AM EST

Elon Musk weighs in on spending battle

The Tesla billionaire and X owner is weighing in again as lawmakers search for an eleventh-hour solution.

"Either the government should pass sensible bills that actually serve the people or shut it down!" Musk wrote on X.

Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk listens as US President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with House Republicans at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Washington, Nov. 13, 2024.
Allison Robbert/POOL via Reuters, FILES

His post came shortly after Trump also urged the shutdown to "begin now" under the Biden administration rather than during his presidency if lawmakers were unable to come to an agreement.

The funding fight has been a forum for Musk to exert his political influence. Musk has become a key member of President-elect Donald Trump's inner circle, and played a role in torpedoing an original government spending plan that had bipartisan support.

10:58 AM EST

As Johnson scrambles for deal, Schumer calls for return to bipartisan plan

In floor remarks on Friday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Republicans to return to the original bipartisan funding plan.

"If Republicans do not work with Democrats in a bipartisan way very soon the government will shut down at midnight. It is time to go back to the original agreement we had just a few days ago," Schumer said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks to reporters following a closed-door strategy session, at the Capitol in Washington, Dec. 17, 2024.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

"It's the quickest, simplest, and easiest way we can make sure the government stays open while delivering critical emergency aid to the American people. If the House put our original agreement on the floor today it would pass and we could put the threat of a shutdown behind us," Schumer said.

The comments came as Speaker Mike Johnson huddled in his office with Vice President-elect JD Vance and other lawmakers to try to come up with a third funding option to vote on.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin

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