Trump: The threat of a government shutdown looms again and the possibility is "likely"

U.S. President Donald Trump said that the possibility of the federal government entering a shutdown is strong if Congress fails to reach an agreement on funding government agencies before October 1.

Trump explained in statements to reporters on Tuesday: "Nothing is certain, but a government shutdown is possible and completely likely," referring to the ongoing disagreement between Republicans and Democrats over the temporary spending bill.

A government shutdown means halting the work of many federal institutions and suspending the salaries of hundreds of thousands of employees, forcing them into unpaid leave. The United States has experienced more than 20 shutdowns since 1977, the longest of which occurred during Trump's first term, lasting 35 days between December 2018 and January 2019.