A full-blown government shutdown may be coming, if reported rumors circulating among top Republican lawmakers are true.
In the power centers amongst the House of Representatives, there is chatter about a temporary stoppage of funding that could throw a wrench in the federal budget, according to a new Axios report.
"People are predicting a shutdown," one GOP lawmaker confided to the news outlet. "Even if it's just for a few days."
Axios learned a subcommittee chair told a fellow House GOP member that members are either "close to reaching a deal or it's about to blow up."
The swirling rumors come months after Congress fended off a similar threat of a government shutdown passing a bill with an 87-11 total to back a temporary funding package.
But that only kicked the budget crisis down the road.
If a budget deal isn't hashed out soon, it will trigger spending cut of 1% across-the-board.
This week, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) tried to assuage concerns the nearing date of April 30.
"We think we're going to meet the deadlines," Johnson said last week before lawmakers went on break.
He said when they return they will move forward with a “robust appropriations process" working under the $1.66 trillion agreement that was achieved alongside Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
The lower chamber is not scheduled to return until Feb. 28, only days before the federal government could enter a partial shutdown on March 1.
It could become a full shutdown if there isn't a budget or stopgap by March 8, Axios reported.
