On Tuesday, Senate Democrats nearly reached a consensus to oppose a bill aimed at extending government funding until November 21, as the threat of a government shutdown looms in Washington, potentially lasting several days or even weeks.
Concerns among Democrats are growing regarding the implications of a shutdown, especially after President Trump hinted at taking “irreversible” measures to obstruct key priorities during such a closure.
Following a lengthy luncheon with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (NY), the party members emerged with heightened tension.
The House requires 60 votes for the bill to pass, yet it currently stands five votes short. If no agreement is reached, government funding will expire just past midnight, triggering the shutdown.
Senators John Fetterman (Pa.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.) were the only Democrats to support measures drafted by Republicans, alongside Senator Angus King (Maine), an independent with Democratic ties.
Cortez Masto explained her vote was influenced by concerns for Nevadans, who are already facing rising costs and an impacted economy. “This administration doesn’t care about Nevadans, but I do, and I can’t support a shutdown that further harms families,” she stated.
Fetterman, who was part of a group that backed a similar bill earlier this month, warned about the risk of Trump using a government shutdown as an opportunity to slash federal programs. “The president has many levers he can pull,” he cautioned reporters.
He referenced a controversial conservative plan from the 2024 presidential race, implying that a shutdown would serve as a perfect environment for “Project 2025.”
Meanwhile, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who previously voted against a related measure, voted in favor on Tuesday. She expressed a willingness to collaborate with Democrats and emphasized the need to avert a shutdown. “We only have a few hours left in the fiscal year, so we’re out of options,” she noted.
The vote on the GOP-led proposal followed a failed attempt at a Democratic alternative, which sought government funding through October 31. This proposal aimed to extend health premium subsidies from the Affordable Care Act and mitigate approximately $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, but ultimately failed with a vote of 47-53, lacking any Republican support.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) promoted the GOP’s bill as the only viable option that could be signed by Trump before funding runs out. “I’m puzzled by what the House has yet to accomplish,” he said. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) recently rejected any suggestion of bringing lawmakers back to Washington to discuss alternative funding measures.
Thune argued that Democrats would bear the responsibility for the shutdown, stating they would need to explain to the public why the government is closed.
He also pointed out that the proposed Democratic funding bill resembled those passed multiple times during their control of the White House and Senate under President Biden.
Thune filed a motion to organize another vote on Wednesday and is looking into possible long-term agreements, though they often struggle to gain bipartisan support.
The outcomes from Tuesday’s voting session were largely anticipated, following unproductive discussions between Trump and Congressional leaders on Monday.
Trump even attempted to sway opinion by sharing a mock video on social media, featuring Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY) in a comical light, which Schumer claimed underscored Trump’s reluctance to engage in serious negotiations regarding government funding.
“With just hours to go before a shutdown that nobody wants, especially everyday Americans, the president seems more focused on trolling online,” Schumer stated on the Senate floor.
During a press conference, Schumer emphasized that Trump and the Republicans were under significant pressure to come to the table regarding funding, particularly with health insurance subsidies—leftover from the pandemic—still on the table.
Democrats are advocating for the renewal of these health subsidies and for protections against potential budget cuts from the White House.
However, Thune dismissed the idea of negotiating health care measures while the government is shut down. He reiterated that any discussions should happen when the government is operational.
Republican leadership indicated a willingness to negotiate on grant extensions, contingent upon the continued funding of the government, while also focusing on broader reforms to eliminate waste and fraud within the ACA.
“We’re open to discussions on their preferred topics, but keeping the government running for the next seven weeks shouldn’t hinge on those issues,” he concluded.
