The Trump administration would have broad authority to make decisions about spending if the government shuts down next week - and it would also have broad authority to make those decisions if the government stays open under a long-term funding extension.

Congress has operated under such an extension for months and is trying to pass another short-term extension, known as a continuing resolution, or CR, before federal funding laws expire. Without action, a shutdown would start just after midnight on Oct. 1.

Under an extension of funding, the administration has far greater leeway to decide how to spend federal money than it does under normal operations. If the government does shut down, Trump and the White House Office of Management and Budget would have the power to decide which agencies a

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