WASHINGTON - Americans are yet again bracing for a possible government shutdown. Congress has until 11:59 p.m. on Friday to pass legislation to keep the government funded. Otherwise, a majority of federal employees will go without pay or be forced to stop working and most government services will pause.

The House is expected to vote Tuesday on a stopgap measure to keep the government funded through September, days before Friday's shutdown deadline.

The GOP plan to keep the government open through September cleared the House Rules Committee in a 9-3 vote, with every Democrat on the panel voting against it.