A 10-week budget extension to keep federal programs running through the November elections stalled in the Senate on Tuesday, raising the prospect of a government shutdown at the end of the week.
Since then, Congress has passed a series of bills to keep most VA programs running uninterrupted even in the event of a partial shutdown. So far, neither defense nor VA officials have sent out notices to employees this month warning of the effects of another shutdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the failed vote on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said officials will continue working on the issue through the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
He accused Democrats of not being serious about “supporting veterans and tackling Zika and flood relief and the heroin prescription opioid crisis,” and using the funding deadline as a pre-election political distraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But leaders from both parties still appeared optimistic that a deal can be reached in the next three days. Whether that plan also includes long-term funding for veterans programs and military construction remains unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n