"Republican Feud Escalates, Raising US Government Shutdown Risk"
A feud over spending cuts between hardline and centrist Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives raises the risk of a government shutdown this fall. The hardline House Freedom Caucus is pushing for deeper spending cuts than agreed upon by President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy, while centrist Republicans argue that their priorities are unrealistic given Democratic control of the Senate and White House. The hardline demands could result in cuts of up to 25% in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, science, commerce, water, energy, and healthcare. The slim House Republican majority and the potential disruption to Americans' lives could have political consequences for Republicans in the 2024 election.