(The Epoch Times)—Lawmakers have no clear path to avoiding a government shutdown that will occur at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1 without congressional action.
Republicans and Democrats remain at odds over a proposed stopgap spending bill after a Sept. 29 meeting between Congressional leaders and President Donald Trump proved fruitless.
Republicans want to pass what they call a clean continuing resolution (CR), which extends current spending for another seven weeks with no substantial changes. That time is needed, they say, to complete the regular appropriations process, which involves passing 12 appropriations bills in each chamber.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said on Sept. 29: “Republicans are united to keep the government open. All it takes is Senate Democrats agreeing to the clean, nonpartisan CR already sitting at the Senate desk.”
In support of that idea, Vice President JD Vance noted on Sept. 29 that the Senate has already passed three appropriations bills with bipartisan support.
Democrats have said they will not support any funding resolution that does not address their concerns about health care spending.
“If the government shuts down, it’s because Republicans would rather shut it down rather than help people afford health care,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Sept. 29.
A key issue for Democrats is the extension of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) expanded premium tax credits, which function as subsidies that help some 20 million middle-income people pay for health insurance. Other demands appear aimed at dismantling health care spending changes made by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in July.
The Republican-controlled House passed a continuing resolution on Sept. 19.
That measure failed in the Senate the same day, where Republicans required seven Democratic or Independent votes, in addition to their 53 seats, to reach the three-fifths threshold, 60 votes, to avoid a filibuster. A Democrat-backed resolution also failed.
Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against the Republican-backed resolution.
Murkowski stated her support for extending the ACA expanded premium tax credits, as well as restoring some funds to wind down operations of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which will cease most operations on Sept. 30.
Paul is a fiscal hawk and a longtime opponent of continuing resolutions. “Missing appropriation deadlines has consequences,” Paul said in a 2018 statement.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was the only Democrat to vote for the Republican proposal on Sept. 19. He also voted for the failed Democrat-backed alternative.
Fetterman said he is unequivocally opposed to allowing any government shutdown. “I refuse to vote to shut our government down, and that’s not going to change,” Fetterman told reporters on Sept. 29.
“If [you] want to change policies, win elections,” Fetterman said, adding that while Democrats’ objectives may be desirable, allowing a government shutdown was the wrong way to pursue them. Democrats are currently the minority in both chambers.
Democrats have stated their cause as fighting for the health care of the American people. “It’s about people losing the care they count on every single day,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told reporters on Sept. 29. “We’re just asking them to restore the money that they’ve already taken away from the American people.”
Some health-related elements of the Big Beautiful Bill are now in effect. Most will be rolled out over the next five years.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said a rollback of the Big Beautiful Bill was a nonstarter. “If my Democratic colleagues shut [the government] down, I assume they have a plan for getting it back open. But if their plan requires us to rescind the One Big Beautiful Bill, that’ll happen when donkeys fly backwards.”
“This is purely a political shutdown,” Kennedy added.
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) voiced optimism about striking an agreement.
“I think if we [focus on] the people rather than the politicians, we’ll come up with a bipartisan deal. Everybody will walk away a little bit unhappy but the people in the state of Georgia will be better off,” Warnock said on Sept. 29.
In the event of a government shutdown, nonessential personnel are furloughed without pay. A 2019 law requires that they receive back pay when funding is restored.
Service members would be required to work without pay during the shutdown. Social Security checks will continue to be issued.
Nathan Worcester and Stacy Robinson contributed to this report.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
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Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
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Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
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Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
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