Democrats Reject Republican Bill, Heightening Shutdown Threat

Senate Democrats announced on Wednesday their refusal to back a Republican-initiated stopgap measure designed to finance the government until September 30, edging closer to a potential government shutdown by the week’s end. After marathon discussions in private party conferences, New York’s Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer highlighted his party’s inability to support the House-approved bill from Tuesday, which intended to maintain most federal funding at existing levels for six months. He urged Republicans to instead consider a one-month extension, permitting Congress the time to address individual spending proposals and reach a bipartisan agreement.

“Our caucus is united” on maintaining government operations while providing Congress the opportunity to negotiate a bipartisan solution, Mr. Schumer stated briefly on the Senate floor.

This decision leaves congressional leaders without a distinct strategy to avoid the shutdown, which will commence at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday unless Congress acts swiftly to extend funding. Senate Republicans would require at least eight Democratic votes to pass the necessary procedural votes for a spending measure, with only Pennsylvania’s Senator John Fetterman pledging support to override any filibuster.

The impasse places Senate Democrats in jeopardy of being faulted for a potential shutdown, despite their criticisms of Trump administration interferences in federal departments. They face pressure from House Democrats and activists to stand firm against actions by Trump and Elon Musk, who are leading initiatives to dismantle large parts of the federal bureaucracy, often defying Congress’s fiscal powers.

While there’s still time for Democrats to reverse course before the shutdown deadline, most have criticized the Republican stopgap proposal, arguing it grants Trump and Musk excessive freedom to pursue unilateral cuts to government employees and programs.

Republicans, controlling both legislative branches, display no intent to negotiate the spending measure with Democrats. Even agreeing to alterations would necessitate the House reconvening, an outcome seen as unlikely. The Republican establishment strategically adjourned on Tuesday night post-approval of the spending measure, a continuing resolution, to pressure the Senate into acceptance.

This week’s confidential discussions have underscored a significant dilemma for Democrats, grappling with responses to the Republican bill. Senators face two unappealing choices: reject the GOP plan and risk blame for a disruptive shutdown or concede to Trump, inciting backlash from Democrats demanding opposition to the White House’s every move.

“There are essentially two options,” stated Maine’s Independent Senator Angus King, who aligns with Democrats. “One is to approve a poor C.R., and the other is to allow a possibly even worse shutdown. It’s a tough decision.”

Despite Mr. Schumer’s declaration against the measure, Democrats continue devising strategies to prevent a shutdown without seeming to relent to Trump. Some propose advancing the stopgap bill with the condition that Republicans allow revisions on the Senate floor, letting Democrats argue their position, even if their amendments ultimately don’t pass.

As House Democratic leaders convened for a retreat in Virginia on Wednesday, they implored the Senate to join them in opposing the funding bill outright.

New York’s Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, condemned the measure as “a power grab that augments Elon Musk’s reach.” He praised his caucus’s unity on Tuesday for voting against it and delivering a resounding rejection of its policies in the House. Nearly all House Democrats voted against the measure.

In the Senate, almost all Democrats stand against the stopgap bill, approved in the House primarily along party lines on Tuesday. They view it as overlooking congressional authority and an inefficient funding approach, permitting Trump and Musk further opportunities to weaken federal agencies. It also deviates from a previous bipartisan accord on domestic and defense budgets.

“Instead of crafting legislation that addresses community needs, they’ve written one converting our funds into slush,” said Washington’s Senator Patty Murray, the senior Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. She added it “leaves funding decisions to two billionaires ignorant of our working families’ needs.”

Senate Democrats prefer to pass individually negotiated spending bills between the Appropriations Committees. However, House Republicans retracted from those discussions, opting for funding freezes until September 30, leaving Democrats to either block or endorse the spending bill.

Virginia’s Democratic Senator Tim Kaine argued against capitulating simply “because the House decided to leave town on a Tuesday.”

“That’s no reason for the Senate to cease being a forum for discussion,” he remarked.

Although opposed to the stopgap bill, leading Democrats hesitate to cause a shutdown due to potential backlash after repeatedly criticizing Republicans for prior shutdowns.

Furthermore, Democrats fear a shutdown might favor Trump and Musk’s agenda, further enabling them to dismantle federal agencies. Democrats acknowledged uncertainty over how a shutdown would resolve and admitted it might weaken their criticism of the Department of Government Efficiency as a vengeful force if they refuse agency funding extensions.

Republicans have already seized on the Democrat’s quandary.

“Listening to our Democrat colleagues, they express much concern for federal workers dependent on government funding,” said Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn. “It’s intriguing that so many in the House voted in a manner potentially harming thousands of federal workers.”

Caving to Republican demands would surely anger House Democrats and advocacy groups insisting Senate Democrats remain firm against the legislation.

Over 150 progressive and environmental organizations urged Senate Democrats via letter on Wednesday to “remain strong until Musk and Trump cease their illicit efforts to dismantle vital federal programs.”

One Democratic senator warned that a shutdown could pave the way for further damage.

“If any group wants a government shutdown, I oppose it,” Mr. Fetterman stated. “Not long ago, we reproached Republicans for shutdown threats; we now face the same situation.”

Democrats have strongly criticized Republicans for their irresponsible actions leading to federal agencies shutting down in earlier funding disputes.

In 2018, Mr. Schumer and Senate Democrats prompted a shutdown seeking protections for undocumented children immigrants, but they relented following a brief closure when public ire grew. Since then, they’ve aimed to avoid blame for any funding lapses.

Annie Karni reported from Leesburg, Va.