Transcript for Government shutdown is imminent

So yeah. Perry welcomes every fear among this Friday and Devin Dwyer ABC news Washington at a White House producer just official here big news in and out the week just before the holiday. Things are you very interest in here Washington very dramatic a lot of upheaval in the past 24 hours just a whole lot we've been talking not just. With with the president congress and on the Supreme Court any one of the stories that we've encountered this week and last could've lasted. For weeks on end I mean huge storage of huge implications for people and some breaking news just a few minutes ago out of the United States Supreme Court the court. Court announcing. In a surprise statement that justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg the oldest justice on the pension 85 years. Has undergone surgery in as an and it's been hospitalized in New York City. Says that then justice Ginsburg had a pulmonary we've got to meet earlier today. To non jewels in the lower room of her lifelong were discovered incidentally. After she fell in her office. In November. Are they remove those portions of the long and see she is Sarah resting comfortably in won't be in the hospital for a few days. Opt for more on this now I want to bring in an expert in that kind of surgery doctor statistician Murphy from the Cleveland clinic using. Head of thoracic surgery there a doctor Murphy thanks so much for joining us today. You and I were talking earlier about this this is this is a pretty serious. Surgery that she just underwent right. He added there's no doubt it is. And it gets two. How fit she is is a person parent and how robust she is. Will dictate largely how well her recovery pursuits. The ad I was gonna ask you about a recovery doctor murky so many people wondering. If Ruth Bader Ginsburg will get back to the bench how quickly this sort of thing. I mean I gotta imagine cutting out a chunk of long hints in no small thing especially for any five year old. He I I think Karen that kind of procedures a big deal for 55 year old. You know if her. Mental. Capacities are any indication of her physical capacities then let's hope that she has a speedy recovery. Yeah yeah. You know you were telling me earlier that no cancer is good cancer. You know that the fact that they did catch this early by accident right just my nature. That follow ironically when she felt your red and then they were. Look around and and in the end that's the silver lining to this state that they've they've found this earlier than expected and and doctor Martinez it's not common that lung cancer is caught this year in recent weeks. Compared perhaps it's look on the brighter side here. He it is. Sometimes it's hard to fathom how some extreme bad luck fall can lead to some additional extreme bad luck lung cancer. When all the while there is some. Reasonable silver lining in all of this that these now jewels were likely. Picked up in a fairly early stage. And they seem to be. Exclusive to a significance that a small segment of the long which allowed for an operation hopefully to render her cancer free. And I am when people are reading this statement from the court they're trying to get a sense of how serious. This is no doubt everyone in this town on the White House but I trying to make sense of this right now as well RR BG's. Numerous legions of fans she's been cancer twice before. Bomb anybody. You know this statement the court put out centerpiece scanner before there's no disease elsewhere in the body and Cindy looked better after there's no evidence. Of any remaining disease. Can you read anything into that had obviously seen her charm and her scans that it is that very positive is that common. Well I I think one of the positive take homes is that. He have an 85 year old who ultimately had lung cancer the fact was taken for fairly aggressive treatment so someone along the way. And I'm sure she has a cracker Jack. Medical staff that is where turner thought that she was fit enough to recover from a fairly invasive procedure and there is something to that we generally. Have base or significant amount of bias when we're considering patience for various therapies. In the bias for taking to someone to a lumpectomy would be we think she can recover so I think that's not a bad thing. And probably speaks to overall her health. And and the fact what do you make of the fact that they say that no further treatment is planned here is that. He you know more some. Some doctors let's air some people are starting dissent that that could mean power and you have a vision on how are you could do you know treatments different from no treatment recommended. Yeah I would say that we just step back for just a sack and one thing that is almost certainly the biggest thing in the next. Short period of her life is not really the cancer it's recovering from this treatment. And so you can't get too. Plan C until you get through plan a so. I think just focusing. On her recovery here and I'm sure that's what. Her staff and her. Physicians there and herself are doing they just need to focus on getting to the treatment. And and additional information regarding. The nature of the cancer the true pathology the true stage will I'm sure be forthcoming tour treating team and it will largely be. Their decision based on the pathology and how well she has recovered. To determine whether any additional therapy would be recommended. Our animal keeper post time that doctor cities mirth the head of thoracic surgery at the Cleveland clinic. Thank you so much sir for your expertise in for coming on the briefing room today hope you your family a happy holiday. And and Justin community. You can't underscore not the how serious this is we've we've talked about the fall sending shivers down the spine of liberals in this town. Absolutely this is potentially. Huge implications are yeah does seem a lot of positive sign this is she should it. It it's true and and you know I think everybody is hoping she makes a good recovery but it's very scary and so that they intense. Focus on the court as you say could not be underscored it is. One of the big reasons that that that Donald Trump found so many supporters at the end of the day the third is really nothing more important to many Republicans. And it in this war extraordinary and nominate three people to this. For imports and much more come on her health. On meanwhile this town is grappling with the potential the government will partially shut down at 1201 tonight. 25%. Federal appropriations are hanging in the balance of nine of fifteen federal agency should which are down at 800000. Federal workers. Are in limbo this morning the president walked up. He was in a tweet fest he's dating men are in fact take a look at what is tweets here tweeting at the center Republican leader Mitch McConnell. Demand he. That mix used in nuclear option to get it done that house last night passed. Former wall fun in the present time Mitch McConnell to do the same that fell on deaf. Here's the Arab and nuclear option for those who don't understand would be. Changing the fundamental ways that the senate works changing the rules basis say he would only. So he's asking mentions usual for every piece of legislation that ever happens going forward. You only need a simple majority instead of the sixty. And Mitch is not going to do that man Collins there are members. This caucus take a look at this statement from Omar moment Lamar Alexander Republican of Tennessee he said. We have rules to follow I want to put a stop to this practice and the senate breaking its rules to change the rules I will not turn. Vote to turn the senate to rule breaking institution. I'm that prompted another statement from Mitch McConnell himself as he was summoned to the White House take a look at this from his office. And this from my David propp spokesman Mitch McConnell says that the leader believes in the institution he's not going to change the rules. So what does the president think and act take a look at what the president said just a few minutes ago. About the possibility was shut down just hours from now. We are going to be working very hard to get something passed in the senate. There's a very good chance it won't get past it's up to the Democrats so it's really. The Democrats shut down as we've done a thing you know when Nancy Pelosi sent you'll never get the votes in the house. We got up and we got a binding march 217. To 185. So now it's up to the Democrats as to whether or not we have to shut down tonight I hope we don't but. We're totally prepared for very long shutdown. Let's go to Mary Bruce on Capitol Hill for the latest our senior congressional correspondent Mary president's ready for a very long shutdown are members of congress. You yet there is a lot of activity here but. And we are just getting the latest of who's coming in beacon because it seems that when it comes to negotiating and negotiations here were pretty much back at square one. Here's the sort of the state of play right now the senate is holding open in oh vote to move forward. On the measure that passed in the house last night that's the short term funding bill that also does include the five billion dollars for the border while that the president. Has been demanding now they're holding open this vote because they're waiting for members of congress and members of congress to get back. Into town so many senators and Arnie. Left Washington now they're literally waiting for them to come back to the airport many of those members are out I ion on the west 'cause it's gonna take them awhile to get back into DC and make their way. Back there to the floor meanwhile. Negotiations are continuing. Lawmakers are incredibly frustrated including Republicans including Republicans were in that meeting with the president today. They're furious that they still don't know where the president stands what he would be willing to accept because the one thing that is clears that what the president wants. Five million dollars for his border while that is not going to pass in the senate what is plan B that's the big question and right now it seems the administration has sent up. The big dogs because right now as we speak downstairs right below me democratic leader Chuck Schumer is huddling with the vice president. With Mike Pence would win with Jared Kushner the president's son in law. Albany. The engine a sap so you have this. Huge. And power for coming up today no right now to try and work with Democrats perhaps some of these administration officials. Can give them a better sense of where the president actually stands but it is just remarkable as you think about back we are hours away from a shot down U hundreds of thousands. A federal employees. Dealing with the prospect of going into the holidays are out of paycheck. And we still don't know what the president would be willing to accept it would be willing is that anything or if he simply has already decided that a shutdown is inevitable. Yet and merry he he's changes own tune on this just ten days ago the president and in the Oval Office told Chuck Schumer. He's willing to embrace that shut down let's take a listen to what he said just ten days ago about what kind of shut down he wants take a listen. And we don't have that sound okay with a press. Why insanity. You can tell us how. I pretty fascinating. The president had promised the mayor and proudly declared that he would be willing to own any government shut down because it was that important for him to get his border while. That he had this dramatic about face earlier after earlier in the week it seemed that he. Legs and softening his stance that he was going to accept in the short term solution. Here on the hill the did not include funding for his wall the president when it looked like he was moving in that direction based ad pretty big revolt on the right that is usually loyal conservative voices were slamming the president. Criticizing an accusing him for caving on his signature campaign promise. That led the president to date in an insist essentially no Walt no deal and that's how we ended up where we are now and it's why so many up here are furious because they say we had to deal and then the president torpedoed it with out a plan would be. Now does will come as no surprise that it did you but as we head towards that shut down and even though they're trying to come up with some kind of fix here. Are in the blame game is well under way the president now insists well look this will be the Democrats. Shut down because of course the house did act and pass a version of this that would give the president that five billion that he wants to you and Republican leaders like Mitch McConnell and many other is that you're saying look. You know and and that this is not the president's jet that is going to be Democrats checked out we no surprise that Democrats I talked with say that is and I quote a complete lie that if this does sent down it would be trump shut down but the bottom line guys is if we do have a shut down. Not gonna get any more likely that the president's going to get what he wants here that in a shutdown is not likely to get him any closer. To his wild because of course Democrats are about to be in charge of the house. Yeah and it's not clear to me how much the rest of the country is. Processing all of this gamesmanship how much they're able to digest the impact of this as we've said Johnson's. This is very different type of shutdown imprudent shut downs we've had a red come close to Mary you know this it's this is a partial shut down. The next payday for federal workers isn't totally Thursday after Christmas. So it's a it's very loving and Bruce on Capitol Hill thanks so much for your reporting. You just know audiences mintier sort of head. Scratch your it is an end so if it does occur which we sort of get the sense and will because there is no magic in between Alexander and I'm negotiating. He the first days of it would have first of all occur over the weekend and they would occur over what our government holidays anyways. Through Christmas so and as you point out it's a partial government shutdown 25% this the bottom line is he would still be looking at. A lot of people hundreds of thousands people have to work. Without pay. And people like you that lucky Lionel like to work. Women are getting paid working with out getting pay is no fun and and it takes an act of congress to get them their back pay they usually do. But it's no fun as a whole host of government services that are. And on nights as well one group of people that is going to be working of course as the Pentagon the military. Will be on duty they're deemed essential throughout any sort of shut down that could be coming tonight at midnight. They are really and though they be in the military did top brass. With yesterday's abrupt decision my job as secretary of defense urgent matters to to resign to quit his post in because of differences with. And in trump. This town still digesting that difficult to underscore just how. Significant that move is let's bring in Lee Martinez from the Pentagon he's been working at. Over the air at. Depending on Louis I guess my big question today is this a sort of started to sing again. Here is what's the morale like. The Pentagon. Among top officials and are there any names being tossed around but who could replace him. Guys I think the big thing is what this letter did yesterday and has done today. It has a really just galvanized attention about the child administration's focus on foreign policy. And how strong of an advocate. And secretary Jim that's really wise in reining in some of president trumps impulsive actions overseas. So I think know what the message is really new in this letter is really what's resonating in this building and outside of it all of especially on Capitol Hill. But what we're seeking at what I've heard in the Holly's today. As people just kind of pointing to this as saying that the message that is laid out here talking about how you stand up realizes I pretty much stand up for what you believe and is that's the message from Mattis his resignation yesterday. ST of potential replacements. I think we heard that named Jack Keane he's a Fox News contributor he's a retired general army general. He's I'd not quite sure where he lives on things a we've seen his social media activity. Over the last couple of days and he has not been keen on the Syria withdraw which was that final straw for just secretary mabus himself. Another name is being bandied about is Keith Kellogg. He is a the national security advisor for vice president pants he himself is also a former army general he's been part of the national security team for the president for the last two years. We know that one point. President trump really did look highly on his. Experience. But it's unclear where he lies and the whole scale of things right now as well. And again another name is that senator Tom cotton whose. He's been bandied about for a couple of jobs previously within the administration. He is everything a former army officer himself. Young. The experienced in terms foreign policy that he's gleaned over these couple years in the senate. But. Into whoever fills in the gap for secretary Mattis is gonna have to deal with the reality that he's going to become an advisor. Who potentially the advice that he or she gives. Well who may not be taken into consideration. By president trapped and that could be a factor in getting me a potentially good successor. To backfill secretary Matt. This apparently Martinez thanks for that serene. Analysis. If you'll just you know I'm struck by. And we was mentioning to people as to potential replacements both those guys have been out publicly criticize Wright present past every four hours and we know this president doesn't like to hire people who've criticized in the list of people available that fit the parameters of sharing his world view right and not having previously criticized him is low very small very small and you know he keeps going back to the same well of names that's what we've seen in the past. When he when he puts names out there for these replacement since its recycled names. On it but you're actually right team to find someone who signs on to withdrawing from Syria at this point is going to be very difficult. You know I think he. Afghanistan. Is this it did it bit of a different issue on he's boosters we were reporting that he's talking up pulling half the force out of there 7000 troops. 141000. They are now this is a seventeen year old war I think people can buy into that he was a case to be made it for that. Bomb but the Syria one is going to be very hard first for for a new Defense Secretary to sign on to but they'll have no choice. We'll see enemy a lot of confirmation hearings ahead matches for the and you secretary of defense of course but for the new attorney general other open positions that the president and will be filling perhaps more comes don't today we'll see what except for running out of power but Tony nineteen will be off with a bang how is all of this plane. Right now out in the rest of the country it's Christmas time people are not focused on the dramas and this town. But our name let's bring in someone whom could have been finger on the pulse of all that Joseph Kelley. And current news 96 point five and Orlando WDBO. Joins us now Joseph thanks so much for coming I get meet and great to. Holidays to you. And I tell what what what's your kind of big picture take on this is you listen to callers and talk to folks. Down in Florida at age is is there a sense down there with your audience that. That we feel up here that this whole town is enough people. You know that the people down here in Orlando honestly don't care so much if there's people inside the beltway I mean we're. Work on a red state America right where the flyover states and we don't get caught up in all the the inner workings of what's going on Washington DC and Mary Bruce really kind of summed it up best when she talked about that Oval Office meeting between the president trump. And Nancy Pelosi in Charles Schumer and the president made it so clear when he said. That he would only shut down and he would take the shut down and then for four of the the president didn't veto a day ago when the senate passed their bill. He kind of flinched a little bit and people thought that perhaps he was gonna. Cave on that and it the president got an earful. And callers to our radio station are really pleased to see that the house passed that budget bill with the almost six billion dollars for the wall. And and they support among other the president staked his claim on this he campaigned on this. And that he'd be people that support president trump would want him to shut it down they want him to find a wall anyway they can. And you think you get you get the sense Joseph that. You know that that that these things add up to people is is there been any erosion in in that support obviously the wall was significant issue but I'm. On top of that the Syrian decision. With Matt has some of these other chaos peripheral. Issues as where some media are calling chaos. That doesn't add up does it take a tall or are they sort of isolated issues are treated individually in a vacuum. Solid cut a channel. Are our red state Americans as best as I can hear they are satisfied Kennedy's where you're here you can in my national himself. This is a there really two separate issues. And the border wall for most trump supporters from from most of the conservative red state America. Over the border wall is really simple to understand it's a pretty easy concept and it's something that from mr. trump repeated over and over and over again on the campaign trail. The Syrian issue is a little bit more complicated the Syrian issue Seale started during the Obama campaign. And there's a lot of people who would just as rather see president trump finish anything that President Obama started whether it's the right thing to do or not. He would like Gil a lot of supporters would like to see us to stop anything the President Obama initiated and I think that's where the serious thing comes in a dusty get a. Past though on the Y mean at the end of the day so many conservatives. Obviously very cognizant about taxes about spending Washington spending. Engage does the president get past that Mexico does not appear to be pain from the wall that this is very much on the back of taxpayers. It is certainly an interesting thing and I do think there's an element. Selective remembering remembering on this because we do remember the president saying we're gonna build a wall but we seem to have forgotten that Mexico is gonna pay for it. He's made comments about how to get rid of the NAFTA deal and getting they DUSMCA. Deal is is part of the funding for that but. Clearly there's two separate. Via pay mechanisms they are so that's that's and it's not as if the money that is achieved through US NCAA is gonna go towards. Now building the wall but you know you've seen the fund raiser from this Florida man who's in who's raising until finally his own private account here did. Try to fall on the wall and I'm I'm afraid of not checked in the last hour to but it was. All approaching ten million dollars people don't seem to mind paying a tax that's effectively what that would be as attacks. People don't mind paying for they really want the wall and they support the president in this effort to build the wall. All right Joseph Kelley with WDBO news 96 point five in Orlando Joseph thanks so much for our friend that perspective from Florida happy day Dennis junior family. Great to have it coming either hope. Meanwhile guys were checking on the stock market what a week it's been ugly week brutal week to end the year abnormally so. The worst year of the stock markets had since 2000 namesake a live look right now two down almost another 400 points today. Don't look at your 401K if anything if you haven't in his it's Graham. Let's hope 2019 yes a little more in store but I think Justin. Just yet another indicator perhaps is Joseph was seeing the presence based prisons supporters are red states giving these are given in the past and some history. Oh yeah markets are no they're not and he has you know he's doing this live by them for the market dive on the market thing in. When you when you when you latch on of that when is doing well you have to answer for when it's not. It's unreasonable to ask him to do so in either instance in reality om and of course you don't hear mention it when it's and it's not doing well but I think. You know he truly believes that if you can turn things around. With China and trade that he can he can reverse these losses. He he has warned that there will be hardships as he gets through this these negotiations and that and he is. He is not relenting much like this this shutdown issue he is not backing down. And we will see what did the new year brings meanwhile we will close outer ear here in the briefing room. With a news final installment another installment of our series up on Capitol Hill. I'm visiting summit taking a closer look at some of the history. Visiting offices of former presidents who served in the United States senator Alan Rogan recently visited the former senate office of John F. Kennedy junior. One of the coolest parts of covering congress. It's a fact that there's history everywhere you look in fact six former president served in these very calls before they went on to the White House. We're taking you inside those offices to see where they work before they became president. Today we're going inside the office of then senator John F. Kennedy. I'm here with senator Bob Casey who. Is that current occupy an of this office which used to belong to then senator John F. Kennedy. What incredible history what does it mean to you is. A sitting senator to occupy this office. Well I'm fourth fortunate to have the opportunity to work out of this office we've been her since. I guess march of 2009. Obviously a lot of history. When I was growing up as a resident of Scranton Pennsylvania of course John F. Kennedy was our hero and the inspiration for a lot of people in my generation. To go into public service to to run for public office. So we've got some pictures over here of Senator Kennedy in this very office that can you tell me a little bit about it. This if this picture is I would see one in front of the fireplace which is right here. Him sitting in his desk on the telephone it's inching that he is glasses on we see a lot of pictures. Of him when classes than this one isn't is similar but this this wall here is his right here that that story Drury was added later. This wall here is where the bookshelf is that wasn't there then and that's Jacqueline Kennedy there at a I think as a separate desk alongside his desk. We'll do this. The picture I'll just folded up his a picture of a couple leaving their wedding in May of 1950. And they meet in the lobby of this hotel in Boston there's senator John F. Kennedy. This couple just happens to be. My mother and father John and Nancy property on our members in this picture years ago my wife and I were married in 1985. Year just before that are right around. So this picture. Never imagined. That I ever be a in the US senate or B and up from the same month with John Kennedy well. Thank you so much senator Kelly thank you really appreciate it should think when you kind of a Smart. And I think staller and for that reporting and thanks to you for being loyal viewers in the briefing room making it this far with us today at all season here at ABC news lively got a lot more in store. Some visual enhancements to Cummins into our set and look at the show. In the New Year's we hope you stay with us here on all of the ABC news platforms FaceBook apple TV Hulu roku. You name it will be there on your devices download the ABC news app going into the new year. Great to have just official web seven thanks to our entire team in the New York control room and all of our team here in Washington producing this show throughout the year. I'll be a very happy holidays for now I'm Devin Dwyer Washington. We'll see next time.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.