"McCarthy's Optimism Fades as Government Shutdown Looms"

Speaker Kevin McCarthy expresses optimism on averting a government shutdown and suggests passing a Republican short-term funding measure in addition to individual spending bills. McCarthy believes that not funding the troops and the border would put Republicans in a weaker position. The House plans to vote on appropriations bills next week, while McCarthy plans to remove $300 million for training of soldiers in Ukraine from the Pentagon spending bill. The Senate may take matters into its own hands and pass a short-term funding bill, but several Republicans threaten to stall proceedings over Ukraine funding. McCarthy has had difficulty holding his conference together, and the government remains on a path to a shutdown at the end of the month.