UPDATE 6
term extension of government funding that would avert a politically embarrassing shutdown   after  President Donald Trump  offered mixed signals on the stopgap plan .  Trump  complicated the talks by saying a six - year extension of funding for the Children ' s Health Insurance Program ( CHIP )  a Democratic priority   should not be included . The White House later said  the president  fully backed the proposal pending in the House of Representatives   which includes the insurance plan . Given opposition in both parties   it was still unclear on Thursday if Congress could head off a weekend shutdown of the federal government   which is operating on its third temporary funding extension since the 2018 fiscal year began on Oct . 1 . Negotiators have scrambled to reach a budget deal that would include Democratic efforts to protect young immigrants known as " Dreamers  " who were brought to the country illegally as children   and satisfy conservatives who want to raise spending for the military . Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said they were optimistic the House later on Thursday would approve funding until Feb . 16 . A procedural House vote to approve the rules for debate passed 226 - 194 . But some Republicans were not so certain the continuing resolution had enough support for approval . Republican Representative Mark Meadows   who heads the conservative House Freedom Caucus   told reporters : " I promise you that ' s not the case " that the speaker had enough Republican votes to pass the bill . Questions about Trump ' s support arose earlier on Thursday   when he said on Twitter that " CHIP should be part of a long term solution   not a 30 Day   or short term   extension !" That led the White House to issue a statement saying Trump was still on board with the House proposal . Asked if Trump ' s statements were making it more likely Republicans would be blamed for a shutdown   Republican Senator Jeff Flake   a frequent Trump critic   said simply : " Yes ." With the threat of a shutdown looming   some senators began to discuss the possibility of short one - or two - day extensions to allow negotiations to continue without stopping government operations . " I think some of our members would like to see us negotiate the bigger deal and do a short - term CR for a few days  " Republican Senator John Thune said . PREPARING FOR THE WORST Some government agencies began to prepare for a possible shutdown . The U . S . Government Accountability Office sent its employees a memo on Thursday warning that regular operations would cease on Monday if a shutdown occurred . If money were to run out   many federal agencies would be shut down and workers sent home . But " essential services " dealing with public safety and national security would continue . McConnell said he anticipated the House would pass the temporary funding bill and the Senate would take it up after that . " Shouldn ’ t be a difficult vote . There ’ s nothing   nothing in such a continuing resolution that my Democratic friends actually oppose  " he said . Democrats have insisted   however   a long - term spending bill must include a measure covering the " Dreamers  " who were protected from deportation under former President Barack Obama ' s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA ) program .  Trump  ordered DACA to end in March and asked Congress to come up with a legislative fix . But bipartisan congressional negotiations with the White House faltered last week   prompting Republican leaders to begin pushing for the passage of the stopgap measure . Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized  Trump  for taking a trip to Pennsylvania on Thursday to campaign for a Republican House candidate rather than staying for the negotiations . He said the House bill to fund the government was “ very likely to be unacceptable to the Senate ." Schumer said Trump ’ s changing positions on government spending and an immigration measure were impeding progress in Congress . " The one thing standing in our way is the unrelenting flow of chaos on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue ( the White House ). It has reduced the Republicans to shambles . They don ' t know who to negotiate with  " he said in a Senate floor speech . Republicans hold a 51 - 49 majority in the Senate and most legislation   including spending bills or an immigration deal   will require 60 votes to pass . Republican Senator Lindsey Graham   who is involved in the immigration negotiations   and conservative colleague Mike Rounds have said they will not vote for a short - term funding bill . Some Republicans have argued a shutdown would hurt military readiness by disrupting supply chains and complicating planning and contracts .
term extension of government funding that would avert a politically embarrassing shutdown   after  [TGT]offered mixed signals on the stopgap plan .  [TGT]  complicated the talks by saying a six - year extension of funding for the Children ' s Health Insurance Program ( CHIP )  a Democratic priority   should not be included . The White House later said  [TGT]fully backed the proposal pending in the House of Representatives   which includes the insurance plan . Given opposition in both parties   it was still unclear on Thursday if Congress could head off a weekend shutdown of the federal government   which is operating on its third temporary funding extension since the 2018 fiscal year began on Oct . 1 . Negotiators have scrambled to reach a budget deal that would include Democratic efforts to protect young immigrants known as " Dreamers  " who were brought to the country illegally as children   and satisfy conservatives who want to raise spending for the military . Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said they were optimistic the House later on Thursday would approve funding until Feb . 16 . A procedural House vote to approve the rules for debate passed 226 - 194 . But some Republicans were not so certain the continuing resolution had enough support for approval . Republican Representative Mark Meadows   who heads the conservative House Freedom Caucus   told reporters : " I promise you that ' s not the case " that the speaker had enough Republican votes to pass the bill . Questions about Trump ' s support arose earlier on Thursday   when he said on Twitter that " CHIP should be part of a long term solution   not a 30 Day   or short term   extension !" That led the White House to issue a statement saying Trump was still on board with the House proposal . Asked if Trump ' s statements were making it more likely Republicans would be blamed for a shutdown   Republican Senator Jeff Flake   a frequent Trump critic   said simply : " Yes ." With the threat of a shutdown looming   some senators began to discuss the possibility of short one - or two - day extensions to allow negotiations to continue without stopping government operations . " I think some of our members would like to see us negotiate the bigger deal and do a short - term CR for a few days  " Republican Senator John Thune said . PREPARING FOR THE WORST Some government agencies began to prepare for a possible shutdown . The U . S . Government Accountability Office sent its employees a memo on Thursday warning that regular operations would cease on Monday if a shutdown occurred . If money were to run out   many federal agencies would be shut down and workers sent home . But " essential services " dealing with public safety and national security would continue . McConnell said he anticipated the House would pass the temporary funding bill and the Senate would take it up after that . " Shouldn ’ t be a difficult vote . There ’ s nothing   nothing in such a continuing resolution that my Democratic friends actually oppose  " he said . Democrats have insisted   however   a long - term spending bill must include a measure covering the " Dreamers  " who were protected from deportation under former President Barack Obama ' s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA ) program .  Trump  ordered DACA to end in March and asked Congress to come up with a legislative fix . But bipartisan congressional negotiations with the White House faltered last week   prompting Republican leaders to begin pushing for the passage of the stopgap measure . Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized  Trump  for taking a trip to Pennsylvania on Thursday to campaign for a Republican House candidate rather than staying for the negotiations . He said the House bill to fund the government was “ very likely to be unacceptable to the Senate ." Schumer said Trump ’ s changing positions on government spending and an immigration measure were impeding progress in Congress . " The one thing standing in our way is the unrelenting flow of chaos on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue ( the White House ). It has reduced the Republicans to shambles . They don ' t know who to negotiate with  " he said in a Senate floor speech . Republicans hold a 51 - 49 majority in the Senate and most legislation   including spending bills or an immigration deal   will require 60 votes to pass . Republican Senator Lindsey Graham   who is involved in the immigration negotiations   and conservative colleague Mike Rounds have said they will not vote for a short - term funding bill . Some Republicans have argued a shutdown would hurt military readiness by disrupting supply chains and complicating planning and contracts .