Senate Democrats are currently deliberating on how best to respond to a temporary funding bill approved by the Republican-led House of Representatives. They are faced with the decision of either supporting a bill that many of them oppose or risking a government shutdown. President Donald Trump’s Republican Party holds the majority in the Senate, but would require some Democratic support to meet the necessary 60-vote threshold for passing legislation. The Senate could potentially vote on the bill as early as Wednesday, pending the Democrats’ strategy.
Senator Angus King, an independent who aligns with the Democrats, described the situation as a choice between endorsing a subpar bill or triggering a partial government shutdown. Concerns have been raised about potential repercussions of a shutdown, particularly amid ongoing efforts by Trump and his advisor Elon Musk to reduce federal government operations. The possibility of a prolonged shutdown looms if an agreement is not reached.
The history of congressional brinkmanship, including frequent close calls with shutdowns and the significant national debt, has led to downgrades in the U.S. government’s credit rating by global agencies. Democrats have criticized Republicans for their stance on shutdowns, while Republicans have pointed fingers at Democrats for contemplating actions that could lead to such an outcome.
Despite the urgency of the funding deadline, Senate Democrats have yet to reach a consensus on their course of action. Some are hesitant to support the bill due to concerns about granting additional power to Elon Musk, whom they view as an unelected authority. Others are exploring alternative approaches, such as proposing amendments to the bill to address their specific concerns.
Efforts to find common ground, such as a 30-day funding extension to allow for completion of regular appropriations bills, have faced opposition from House Republicans. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has suggested an open amendment process as a potential solution to address Senate Democrats’ reservations about the funding bill.
and Gabriella Borter, with editing by Scott Malone and Lincoln Feast.
