Republicans are proposing short-term funding measures, but Democrats don’t play the ball without medical concessions.
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WASHINGTON – Every day you cross Capitol Hill, there is a greater chance of government closures.
Time runs out for Congressional Democrats and Republicans to compromise, and neither side appears to be caught up in a debate that could lead to partisan gridlocks closing all but essential government services. Funds expired in about two weeks in the middle of the night on October 1st, and lawmakers are planning a holiday for one of the weeks tied to Jewish holidays.
For the first time since March, Democrats have a greater political advantage over President Donald Trump. Senate rules require Republicans to get at least some democratic votes, pass the budget and avoid closures.
When Democrats were in this position last, they decided that blinkmanship was not worth the political cost. Fearing how shutting down the government would empower Elon Musk and his government’s efficiency to further erode the federal workforce, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has struck a short-term funding agreement with Republicans. Progressive Democrats fumed.
Six months later, Schumer isn’t playing that well. Hakeem Jeffries is not his counterpart in the House of Representatives either. Two Democrats warn that this time closures are inevitable if Republicans do not offer some concessions, particularly on health care.
But Democrats aren’t happy with what the GOP has been offering so far, Schumer told reporters September 10.
“What Republicans have proposed is not enough to meet the needs of the American people, not enough to get our vote,” he said.
House Republicans are working on stop-gap funding measures to maintain federal lights until just before Thanksgiving, Congressional leaders said, and Trump is throwing his support behind that strategy. In a social media post on September 15th, he urged Republicans to “fight back” with “radical left Democrat demands” by voting for the bill.
“The Democrats hope to close the government,” he wrote.
What happens to the shutdown?
When members of Congress do not agree with how to fund the government, it will be closed.
Some federal workers are considered not essential and will stop coming to work and getting paid. Important workers in fields like law enforcement and the military, although unpaid, remain at work. When the government reopens, both groups will be ultimately refunded.
National parks have mostly been closed during past closures. While profits such as Social Security and federal student loans will continue to be available to Americans, the agencies that oversee these programs have been cut back on skeleton staff, putting services at risk.
Fixed points: Obamacare, Medicaid cut
One of the main fixed points in the shutdown negotiations is about Medicaid fundraising. Many Democrats have pushed loudly to reverse recent cuts in programs enacted as part of President Trump’s major tax and spending laws.
They are also worried about Obamacare subsidies that are about to expire at the end of the year. Without Congress intrusion, millions of people can see their healthcare premium rise.
At a press conference on September 9th, Sen. Brian Schatz of D-Hawaii said:
In a recent interview with Punchbowl News, Senate majority leader John Thune said Republicans are currently uninterested in negotiating healthcare. Their priorities are to keep the government open for the next seven weeks, he said, but Democrats are too stubborn.
“They think it’s politically advantageous to close it,” he said. “Their bases want that.”
More security for politicians?
The Shutdown Racket also comes amid growing tensions at Capitol Hill over the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who had close ties with many Republican lawmakers.
On both sides of the aisle, members of Congress have been increasingly concerned about their own safety since Kirk’s September 10th murder. The Trump administration is seeking additional $58 million in security funds from the executive branch and the Judicial Branch, according to the White House Management and Budget Office.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said on September 14th that Congress will “assess all options” to make lawmakers safer. He told reporters the next day that he was working to attach plans to strengthen members’ security to StopGap’s funding bill.
Despite concerns about the security of Democrats, they are still unlikely to support the measure if it means funding the government without meeting the demands.
Contributed by Francesca Chambers, USA Today
Zachary Schermele is a council reporter for USA Today. You can contact him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @Zachschermele and follow Bluesky at @Zachschermele.bsky.social.
