Senate Democrats have declared their opposition to a House-approved government funding bill, raising the likelihood of a government shutdown as the Friday night deadline approaches. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Wednesday that Democrats would reject the Republican-backed continuing resolution, which aims to fund the government through the end of September.
“Republicans do not have the votes in the Senate to invoke cloture on the House CR,” Schumer said on the Senate floor, referring to the House-passed measure. He criticized Republicans for drafting the bill without Democratic input and called for a one-month funding extension to allow more time for bipartisan negotiations.
The House narrowly passed the six-month funding bill on Tuesday, but Senate Democrats argue that it disproportionately boosts military spending while cutting nondefense domestic programs. Schumer urged Republicans to support a “clean” one-month extension to avoid a shutdown, emphasizing that the Democratic caucus is united on this approach.
The government will shut down at midnight on Friday if Congress fails to pass a funding bill and President Donald Trump does not sign it into law. Republicans, who hold 53 Senate seats, need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, making Democratic support essential.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., echoed Schumer’s stance, stating that Democrats were excluded from the bill’s drafting process and are demanding the opportunity to propose amendments. “There are not the votes right now to pass it,” Kaine told reporters.
However, some Democrats expressed concern that a shutdown could have severe consequences for ordinary Americans, even as they criticized the House bill. “Both outcomes are bad,” said Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., highlighting the dilemma facing lawmakers.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., has indicated he will support the House bill to prevent a shutdown, while others, like Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., remain undecided. “I’m weighing the badness of each option,” Kelly said.
Democrats are also pushing for guardrails on Elon Musk’s influence over government operations, adding another layer of complexity to the negotiations. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., emphasized the need for a short-term funding solution to avoid a shutdown and allow more time for bipartisan discussions.
Republicans, however, appear reluctant to support a one-month extension, preferring the longer-term House bill to provide stability and focus on other legislative priorities, such as border security and tax reform.
As the deadline approaches, the standoff underscores the deep partisan divide in Congress and the challenges of reaching a compromise.
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