Hello and welcome to Newsar from the BBC World Service.

Coming to you live from our studios in central London, I'm Julian Marshall.

Will the lights go out in Washington this Christmas?

I'm asking metaphorically, of course, but there is a risk that all non-essential U.S. government functions will pause unless Congress comes up with a new spending plan in the coming hours to avert a shutdown.

Republicans and Democrats had agreed a plan, but it was derailed after scathing criticism by incoming President Donald Trump

and his efficiencies are Elon Musk.

His role was highlighted by Democratic Representative Rosa DeLaro speaking on the floor of the House.

They write the bill, they post the bill.

They agreed on a bill.

They signed it.

And you know what? They got scared.

Because President Musk told them.

President Musk said, don't do it. Don't do it.

Shut the government down. Imagine. What does he know about what people go through is when the government shuts down? Well, a revised spending bill

backed by Mr. Trump was then heavily defeated, with even members of his own Republican Party voting against it,

including Congressman Eric Berlinson.

When I ran for office, I said that I would not vote to raise the debt ceiling.

And so I've never voted to raise the debt ceiling.

I mean, I love Donald Trump, but he didn't vote me into office.

My district did.

I'm not afraid of a shutdown.

And now U.S. lawmakers are set to return to the floor of the House of Representatives

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