CNBC: A US shutdown is ensured as the Senate won't meet again until after midnight
The Trump administration is instructing federal agencies to prepare for a possible government shutdown.
Government funding lapses at midnight Thursday and Congress is making slow progress toward passing a funding bill.
Sen. Rand Paul blocked an effort to quickly pass a massive budget agreement in the Senate.
A U.S. government shutdown became all but certain as the Senate recessed until early Friday morning without passing a major budget agreement.
The Trump administration instructed federal agencies to get ready for a possible government shutdown as Congress moved closer to the midnight Thursday deadline without passing a funding bill, CNBC confirmed.
An Office of Management and Budget official said the office is preparing for funding to lapse as a Senate stalemate drags on with only hours until current funding expires. The Trump administration supports the massive bipartisan budget deal working its way through Congress and wants lawmakers to pass it, the official said.
Some government agencies will run out of money and have to furlough workers if Congress lets funding lapse. A shutdown would be the second in less than a month.
Hundreds of thousands of workers would not go into work Friday if a shutdown takes place through the start of the day. Others would have to work without getting paid at first. A government shutdown is only partial — functions like the postal service and Social Security checks would continue.