Congress has until the end of the week to pass a bill that will keep the government funded and avoid a shutdown in the heart of tax season.

The federal government will shut down if a funding bill is not passed by the end of Friday. Illinois has over 40,000 federal civilian employees who could be working with pay, working without pay, or furloughed with no income.

Democrats have a rare moment of leverage in Washington after losing the November election and watching helplessly as Elon Musk dismantles the federal government.

This week’s bill to keep the government funded is the first big issue where Democrats have leverage, because Republicans need Democratic votes—maybe in the House, and definite

House Republicans passed a stopgap bill to keep government funding at current levels until September. Now the measure heads to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain.

The vote sets up a showdown in the Senate over a bill Democrats criticize as giving more power to President Trump and Elon Musk.

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives set up a Tuesday vote on legislation that would keep the government funded and avert a partial shutdown, as Washington is rocked by President Donald Trump's rapid moves to slash federal agencies.