Shutdown would've serious ramifications for US military: Mattis

United States Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has warned that even a partial government shutdown would tremendously impact the country's military's maintenance, training, and intelligence operations.

Mattis replied "yes" when he was quizzed, if a shutdown would have "serious ramifications," for the US military during a question and answer session, reports The Washington Examiner.

"We do a lot of intelligence operations around the world, and they cost money. Those obviously would stop," Mattis added, "And I will tell you training for almost our entire reserve forces will stop. And you must understand the critical importance of our reserves. They are the only shock absorber we have."

The defence secretary further stated that 50 percent of the Defense Department's civilian workforce would have to be furloughed.

The White House announced in a statement that it would be holding a media briefing on Friday over the possible government shutdown, as legislators struggled to keep the United States government funded.

Marc Short, White House legislative affairs director, and Mick Mulvaney, head of the Office of Management and Budget, will conduct the briefing at around 10:30 am (local time).

Earlier, the US House of Representatives passed a Republican-led bill aimed at avoiding a government shutdown.

However, the fight to get the bill through Congress is not over yet. This legislation would likely be dead on arrival in the Senate, where Democrats have said they have enough votes to block the legislation.

The final vote was 230-197, with six Democrats voting for the measure and 11 Republicans voting against it.

If the bill ultimately becomes law, it would be the fourth temporary funding patch since September.