Democrats Gamble With Government Shutdown as Deadline Looms
By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square
(Worthy News) – Less than 48 hours before federal agencies run out of money, Senate Democrats have decided to risk a government shutdown in a largely symbolic effort to oppose the six-month funding stopgap endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Backed by their colleagues in the House, which passed the partisan Continuing Resolution earlier this week, Senate Democrats are clamoring for Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to hold an amendment vote on their month-long stopgap alternative.
Otherwise, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., warned, his party will not give Republicans the eight Democratic votes needed for the CR to pass cloture and advance in the Senate for a majority vote.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is the only Democrat so far who has publicly pledged to support the CR, arguing that Democrats’ demand for a futile vote on their own stopgap is merely a symbolic show of defiance against Trump.
“Shut the government down, plunge the country into chaos, risk a recession – or – Exchange cloture for a 30 day CR that 100% fails. The House GOP CR will then pass the Senate because it only needs 51 votes,” Fetterman posted on X Thursday. “Total theater is neither honest with constituents nor a winning argument.”
Thune indicated willingness to negotiate with Democrats, but also pointed out the logistical difficulties with the House in recess.
“If they want a vote on that in exchange for getting us the votes to pass the [CR] to Sept. 30, I think we’re open to that,” Thune told reporters Thursday morning. “But as you all know, the House is gone, so whatever happens is going to have to be the final action here, and really it’s up to them.”
Republicans’ 99-page bill would keep most government spending on autopilot through the end of the existing fiscal year on Sept. 30.
The CR makes some funding adjustments from fiscal year 2024, including slashing $13 billion in non-defense spending, boosting defense spending by $6 billion, increasing WIC and CSFP nutritional programs spending by $500 million and $36 million, respectively.
It also authorizes billions of dollars for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation efforts, veterans’ health care, and air traffic control safety priorities. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid spending would remain unchanged.
But Democrats are concerned that passing the CR, which lacks specificity on many of the funding directives, could give Trump free rein to selectively allocate or withhold the approved funding.
Thune reminded lawmakers Thursday that while CRs are “never the preferred option,” the long-term stopgap is necessary in the current situation.
“I intend to do my very best to ensure that from here on out, the government is funded through appropriation bills that proceed through regular order,” Thune said. “But at this point, our best option is a Continuing Resolution to fund the remainder of fiscal year 2025 and clear the decks for the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process to begin.”
If passed, the CR would mark the third time Congress punted the deadline to pass the annual 12 comprehensive appropriations bills that provide money for federal agencies to spend on programs each year.