Why is a government shutdown possible before the election?

Stop us if you’ve heard this before: The federal government could shut down sometime in the next few weeks if Congress can’t agree to a new spending bill. It is a familiar scenario that has played out repeatedly in recent years. But the latest iteration of this story has a wrinkle — the shutdown could come right as the presidential campaign heads into the home stretch.

Negotiations are off to a tough start. A spending proposal from House Speaker Mike Johnson has already stumbled, “facing resistance from both parties,” said The New York Times. His bill would extend federal funding through next March but would also include a provision “that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote” — an anti-immigration measure known as the SAVE Act. Hard-line Republicans on Johnson’s right oppose the bill because it would continue funding at levels “they believe are too high.” Even if passed, though, the bill would be “dead on arrival” in the Democratic-controlled Senate.