Congress faces an April 28 deadline to fund the federal government. Federal agencies, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service, are operating under stagnant funding levels because lawmakers failed to pass an appropriations bill last year. They instead passed a continuing resolution that expires this Friday. Unless an agreement is reached to address the situation, the government could shut down. The last time it occurred was in October 2013, an action that sent about 800,000 employees home for 16 days. Tribes were still reeling from "devastating" funds cuts imposed by sequestration at the time. In theory, avoiding a shutdown should be simple because the GOP controls the House, the Senate and the White House. But with President Donald Trump in the picture, talks have faltered because his administration is demanding funds to start building a costly wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. And attempts to revive a repeal of the Affordable Care Act are clouding the debate. Read More on the Story:....the wall is not built, which it will be, the drug situation will NEVER be fixed the way it should be!#BuildTheWall
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 24, 2017
Showdown looms as Trump demands funding for wall on U.S.-Mexico border (The Washington Post 4/23)
Five Key Questions as a Government Shutdown Looms (The New York Times 4/23)
Republicans Agree on No Shutdown, but Not on How to Avoid One (The New York Times 4/24)
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