Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston.
Congress is coming down to the wire to strike a bipartisan compromise on a temporary measure to keep the government funded.
The House passed a short-term spending bill that was rejected by the Senate.
NPR's Barbara Sprunt reports lawmakers remain divided over a number of issues.
Number one,
they want to undo some cuts to health care programs that were put in place as part of the major spending and tax bill that Republicans passed earlier this summer.
And another big sticking point is that Democrats want to make some expanded tax cuts from the Affordable Care Act permanent.
Those are on track to expire at the end of the year.
Thune has said that there's time to negotiate on that particular point later.
He first wants to pass this stopgap bill and avoid a shutdown.
That's NPR's Barbara Sprint reporting.
The top four congressional leaders will meet with President Trump at the White House this afternoon,
a day before the deadline, to reach a deal.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will address hundreds of admirals and generals at Marine Base Quantico in Virginia on Tuesday,
and PR's Tom Bowman reports.
Sources tell NPR Hegseth is expected to talk about homeland defense and tell the admirals and generals about the ongoing plan to restore what he calls a worry or ethos,
a move that includes toughening physical fitness standards for the troops.
Hegseth has repeatedly said the military is too woke and focused on diversity.
He has fired multiple senior officers citing these reasons or suggesting they got their jobs because of diversity.
Hegseth has also said the military is top-heavy with senior officers and wants to cut their numbers by 20%.