The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a Republican fiscal bill aimed at preventing a government shutdown, intensifying uncertainty as the Friday midnight deadline approaches. The proposal fell short of even a simple majority, with dissent from both parties, and was derailed by Donald Trump’s and Elon Musk’s criticism. House Speaker Mike Johnson faces pressure from Democrats to revive previous negotiations while contending with conservatives in his party demanding spending cuts. The government shutdown could impact hundreds of thousands of federal employees and create widespread discontent before Christmas.