Legislators are setting up the narrative that the other party will bear the brunt of responsibility if the government shuts down at the end of the month.
As both parties strategize to fund the government before the September 30 deadline, they’re increasingly shifting blame, pointing fingers at who’s going to be at fault if things go dark.
During a Senate session on Thursday, minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) raised alarms about a potential “Republican-triggered shutdown,” claiming that the GOP’s unwillingness to compromise could put the government at risk, again.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) recently accused Democrats of applying pressure for a shutdown, asserting that if funding lapses, the blame would lie with Democrats who reject sensible funding solutions.
Such a shutdown could be politically damaging for both parties.
With Republicans in control of the House, Senate, and White House, casting blame for a shutdown may not be as easy as they think.
Democrats, on the other hand, are wary of appearing solely responsible for keeping the government running if a funding measure from the GOP-controlled House moves forward.
This back-and-forth continues as tensions over spending mount, prompting concerns from lawmakers on both sides about the impending closure.
“If I had to put money on it today, I think we could go either way: 50-50, or even potentially a shutdown,” expressed Senator John Kennedy (R-La.), before criticizing Democrats for what he termed “irrational demands” related to healthcare.
Democrats are amplifying calls for bipartisan negotiations to prevent a shutdown, but they also express worries about anticipated changes to the Obamacare tax credit later this year, particularly in light of drastic tax and spending changes introduced during Trump’s presidency.
“It’s crucial to mitigate the damage from Donald Trump’s sweeping legislation, particularly concerning healthcare access,” emphasized House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) in a letter to colleagues last week, prepping them for the “possibility of another painful Republican-led shutdown.”
“House Democrats have been clear about their readiness to support a bipartisan spending bill before the deadline,” he wrote. “We cannot simply endorse partisan Republican measures that harm everyday Americans and attack healthcare access.
As both sides brace for a possible short-term funding extension—often referred to as a Continuing Resolution (CR)—there’s a hope that this might facilitate the passing of three essential funding bills for Veterans Affairs, agriculture, and legislative sectors.
Still, some lawmakers are being circumspect, weighing their ambitious proposals as they urge leaders to initiate bipartisan funding talks.
“I think the first step is to have a discussion involving the four leaders,” mentioned Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), who has been pushing for funding talks with GOP leadership over the past few weeks.
“If we can craft a bipartisan proposal, it stands a chance for a bipartisan vote,” Schatz noted, although he added, “But that’s contingent on both parties being willing to participate.”
“Last time, their cooperation was lacking, and I think it’s time for our Republican counterparts to understand that things aren’t going smoothly,” he remarked.
During their last funding negotiation in March, Senate Democrats faced backlash from their supporters for enabling Republicans to advance their budget plan to keep the government running.
While this deal received a warm reception from some Republicans, both parties hope Congress can address government funding levels in the coming months.
However, the presence of hardline conservatives in both chambers has sparked calls for a freeze on funding levels for fiscal year 2025 beyond the mid-term elections. Representative Andy Harris (R-Md.), a member of the House Freedom Caucus, stated, “We should hold off until December 1st after the elections,” emphasizing that this would alleviate stress before then.
“Criticism will undoubtedly follow just before the elections, but why should we put the American people through it?” he pondered.
Senior officials indicated that the White House is advocating for a clean CR at current funding levels in the new year, aiming to prevent omnibus funding deals that tend to inflate spending.
Yet, Democrats have already dismissed long-term funding proposals as “non-starters.”
Moreover, both appropriations committees are lagging in their annual funding tasks, with neither having progressed on all 12 of their funding bills just yet.
While some budget negotiators are urging both chambers to convene meetings to advance parts of completed bills, they’ll likely have to confront bipartisan agreements on total funding figures for 2026 first, before delving into negotiations for individual bills.
“We’re not going to see a Christmas omnibus,” House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) remarked last week. “To realistically continue negotiations, a top-line figure is essential.”
“And once again, that empowers leadership to make decisions—or carry out actions,” he added. “But that hasn’t happened yet.”
