A potential partial government shutdown is looming Friday night. As of Wednesday morning, there is still no agreement on a spending plan.

“For the first time, [House Speaker Mike] Johnson [R-La.] is making explicit to Democrats and the White House that he’s willing to shut down federal agencies unless he has a global agreement – of sorts – on all 12 FY 2024 appropriations bills,” Punchbowl News reported this morning.

Johnson’s proposed plan is to extend current spending levels for one to three weeks to finalize a bipartisan deal that would fund the rest of the current fiscal year.

Democrats seemed open.

“If we need to pass a very short-term CR along with whatever bills we can finish this week, Democrats are ready to make it happen so we can prevent a completely unnecessary shutdown,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) told colleagues Tuesday, according to The Hill.

The Impact of the Impasse

DOD officials continue to stress the financial crunch the Pentagon is in without full funding for this fiscal year.

“It’s incredibly frustrating and worrisome,” Space Development Agency Director Derek Tournear said Tuesday, according to Breaking Defense.

Tournear said SDA had to put two solicitations on hold and expressed concern the spending stalemate could stretch into April.

“We’ll have to work with our vendors, because we won’t be able to continue paying them.”

DOD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza