President Trump and GOP lawmakers are eager to make any potential government shutdown as difficult as possible for Democrats, and progress seems stalled as the deadline looms closer.
Republicans and Democrats have been in discussions for weeks, turning down proposals for a straightforward stop-gap funding plan, while both parties aim to protect Affordable Care Act subsidies.
As the deadline approaches, Republicans have cautioned their counterparts that if a shutdown occurs, the fallout could be especially harsh for minority groups. “Honestly, I’m worried about being in a blue state. The president has a lot of power to decide what’s critical,” remarked Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) when reflecting on how a shutdown might affect his constituents. “We really want to avoid a shutdown.”
Republicans think that the momentum is shifting as they prepare for the shutdown battle, largely coming together to support a seven-week continuing resolution (CR), spearheaded by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
In the event of a shutdown, Republicans are not short on tactics to deal with it.
Many within the party recall the 2013 shutdown, viewing it as a major blunder for the GOP when former President Obama and then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) leveraged it against conservatives attempting to dismantle Obamacare.
During that crisis, popular sites like the National Mall and the World War II Memorial were closed, and images of children dressed as monkeys at the gates of the closed National Zoo became widely shared, illustrating the impact on everyday Americans.
There’s also the potential to mandate government employees to work without pay, which could lead to critical areas like the Health Department, Veterans Affairs, and the IRS being understaffed.
“When the shutdown hits, it’s less about the party’s strategy and more about the impact on everyday people,” noted a Republican Senate aide.
Capitol Hill’s GOP leadership has options as well. Thune is expected to introduce a clean CR for a vote when he returns early next week. He has been a frequent supporter of this measure, advocating for directed funding toward military needs.
Democrats remain relatively united, but some wonder if they can act swiftly enough, especially with the deadline rapidly approaching.
Some party members fear going too far down the path to a shutdown, thinking that Democrats might not be ready for what’s ahead. “I don’t believe Democrats truly understand the implications they might face. Without an exit plan, they’re at a disadvantage,” remarked a former senior Democratic aide, suggesting it wouldn’t be surprising if Trump cut critical services and placed blame on Democrats.
“His voice carries much more weight than theirs right now,” the aide expressed, likening the situation to high-stakes poker, where Trump might seem to have a weak hand but could end up outplaying his opponents.
On Tuesday, Trump added to the uncertainty by canceling a planned meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), following a call the night before where Johnson and Thune briefed him on the clean CR and the proposals from Democrats.
Johnson raised questions about the necessity of the meeting, while other Republicans warned that even if it did happen, Democrats might not receive what they were hoping for.
Marshall said, “They need to be cautious about what they ask for,” reflecting on how some Democrats have been to the White House multiple times, suggesting they might be trying to influence the president in subtle ways.
As he headed to speak at the UN General Assembly, Trump scrapped the meeting after considering Democrats’ requests to avoid a government shutdown, which included long-term funding for Affordable Care Act subsidies, overturning Medicaid cuts, and restoring certain cuts.
“I’ve decided that meetings with their Congressional leaders are unproductive,” Trump stated, adding that Democrats are “threatening to shut down the government over free healthcare for immigrants.”
He added, “There are consequences to losing an election, yet it seems Democrats still don’t get it.”
The White House has remained tight-lipped about whether Trump will engage with lawmakers prior to the deadline. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt informed Democrats that Trump had communicated his concerns about government funding and was in talks with both Republican and Democratic members.
In parallel, Jeffries has attempted to hold the GOP accountable for a potential shutdown in a letter to Democrats, saying, “Trump abruptly canceled the meeting. Clearly, GOP extremists are eager for a shutdown to avoid addressing the healthcare crisis ruining America.”
He also noted that the House Republicans have strangely decided to cancel their votes next Monday and Tuesday, even with government funding set to run out by late September 30th.
The White House is also emphasizing that Democrats would be neglectful if the government were to close. “We simply want a clean funding extension to keep the government open. That’s it,” Levitt asserted.
“If there is a government shutdown, it will be solely on Democrats’ shoulders and will adversely affect security for our country, seniors, veterans, military families, and those most vulnerable in our society.”
