Senate Races to Prevent Government Shutdown Before Midnight/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Senate is scrambling to prevent a partial government shutdown before midnight, as Democrats weigh approving a bill that grants President Trump broad spending authority or risking a funding lapse. While some Democrats object to the bill’s provisions, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer signaled that he would not allow a shutdown. The Republican-led House passed the bill earlier in the week, forcing the Senate into a take-it-or-leave-it decision.
Senate Shutdown Showdown Quick Looks:
- Urgent Deadline: Lawmakers must pass a funding bill before midnight to avoid a partial government shutdown.
- Democratic Dilemma: The bill gives Trump’s administration significant control over spending, raising concerns among Democrats.
- Republican Pressure: The GOP insists Democrats either accept the House-approved bill or take the blame for a shutdown.
- Funding Adjustments: The legislation includes a $13 billion cut to non-defense spending and a $6 billion boost to defense funding.
- IRS and D.C. Impact: The bill claws back $20 billion in IRS funding and forces Washington, D.C., to revert to last year’s budget.
Senate Races to Prevent Government Shutdown Before Midnight
Deep Look:
With a looming midnight deadline, the Senate is racing against the clock to pass a funding bill and prevent a partial government shutdown. The legislation, which has already cleared the Republican-led House, presents Senate Democrats with a difficult choice: approve a bill that hands significant spending discretion to President Donald Trump or reject it and allow funding to lapse.
Schumer’s Balancing Act
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has allowed fellow Democrats time to voice their concerns about the bill, but late Thursday, he made it clear that he would not permit a shutdown. This decision paves the way for Democratic senators to join Republicans in advancing the legislation.
“While the CR still is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse,” Schumer stated.
A procedural vote on Friday will determine if the bill can muster the necessary 60 votes to move forward. At least eight Democratic senators must support the measure for it to pass.
Key Provisions and Controversies
The bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), extends government funding through the end of September. However, it includes controversial provisions that Democrats argue give the Trump administration unchecked power over spending decisions.
One major sticking point is the elimination of hundreds of funding directives that typically guide spending decisions, effectively allowing the administration to allocate funds as it sees fit. Critics warn that this could divert money away from critical programs such as opioid addiction treatment and redirect it toward mass deportation efforts.
Another contentious issue is the treatment of Washington, D.C. The bill nullifies the city’s current budget and forces it to revert to the previous year’s funding levels, requiring $1.1 billion in spending cuts. Mayor Muriel Bowser has criticized the move, calling it an attack on the district’s autonomy.
Additionally, the bill claws back $20 billion in IRS funding, on top of a previous $20 billion cut. The reductions significantly scale back funding increases originally passed during Joe Biden’s presidency.
Republican Strategy and Democratic Frustration
With the House having already passed the bill, Republican leaders have positioned the Senate into a difficult choice: pass the legislation or be blamed for a shutdown. Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., dismissed Democratic objections, stating, “Democrats need to decide if they’re going to support funding legislation that came over from the House or if they’re going to shut down the government.”
Progressive groups and some Democratic lawmakers have pushed for a short-term, 30-day funding extension instead of a full six-month CR. However, GOP leaders rejected the idea outright, forcing Democrats to either accept the existing bill or risk a shutdown.
Schumer and other Democrats have argued that a shutdown would only consolidate Trump’s power by allowing him to determine which agencies and programs are considered “essential.” This, they warn, could lead to furloughed federal workers with no guarantee of being rehired.
Political Fallout and Future Battles
The funding bill is just one piece of a broader political battle. Republicans are preparing a separate legislative package that would extend tax cuts from Trump’s first term while paying for them with spending reductions elsewhere. Democrats have framed the two bills as a “one-two punch” against working-class Americans.
“You’re looking at a very bad CR, then a reconciliation bill coming down, which will be the final kick in the teeth for the American people,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
On the other hand, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., accused Democrats of hypocrisy, stating, “Democrats are fighting to withhold the paychecks of air traffic controllers, our troops, federal custodial staff. They can’t be serious.”
As the Senate prepares for its final vote, the political stakes are high. Whether Democrats accept the bill or force a shutdown, the decision will have lasting consequences for government operations and the ongoing power struggle in Washington.
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