McCarthy pivots to 45-day plan relying on Democratic help to prevent shutdown

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (J Scott Applewhite/AP)

On the brink of a US federal government shutdown, Speaker Kevin McCarthy has announced a dramatic pivot, trying to push a 45-day funding bill through the House with Democratic help — a move that could keep government open but most certainly risks his job.

Republican legislators met behind closed doors early in the morning with hours to go before the midnight deadline needed to fund government operations or face a disruptive federal closure.