Shutdown Looms as Senate Blocks Both GOP and Democratic Bills

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Shutdown Looms as Senate Blocks Both GOP and Democratic Bills/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Senate rejected both Republican and Democratic short-term spending bills Friday, increasing the risk of a partial government shutdown on Oct. 1. Republicans insist Democrats are pushing unrelated spending demands, while Democrats accuse Republicans of refusing to negotiate. President Trump warned a shutdown could leave the U.S. “a closed country for a period of time.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., is met by reporters as he walks to his office while Congress works on a government funding solution, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., speaks during a news conference after a policy luncheon at the Capitol, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Senate Rejects Funding Bills, Shutdown Risk Rises – Quick Look

Senate voted down both GOP and Democratic stopgap bills to fund government past Sept. 30.
GOP bill: maintain current funding for 7 weeks, add $88M security funds → failed 44–48.
Democratic bill: extend ACA subsidies, reverse Medicaid cuts → failed 47–45.
House earlier passed GOP bill 217–212, with one Democrat supporting.
Trump urged Republicans to pass the measure, predicting possible “closed country.”
Speaker Johnson: Democrats will be responsible if shutdown happens.
Schumer: Republicans must negotiate; accuses GOP of “theater.”
Government shutdown would begin Oct. 1 unless Congress acts.
Lawmakers leaving town for Rosh Hashanah recess delays further talks until Sept. 29.
Health care subsidies and ACA premium increases central to Democratic push.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., tells reporters that Republicans are jeopardizing health care for Americans with their policies and their strategy to fund the government before the deadline at the end of the month, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and defended employers who take action against their workers whose comments go too far, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Deep Look: Senate Gridlock Heightens Shutdown Risk

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Friday rejected competing short-term spending measures, heightening the risk of a partial government shutdown when the fiscal year ends on Oct. 1.

Both chambers had scrambled to advance stopgap bills after weeks of stalemate. Instead, the Senate votes reinforced partisan divides, with neither Republicans nor Democrats securing enough support to avert a shutdown.

The Senate Votes

Republican proposal: Maintain current funding for seven weeks, add $88 million in security spending for lawmakers, Supreme Court justices, and top officials in the wake of activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
- Result: 44–48, with two Republicans (Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski) joining Democrats in opposition.
- Democratic Sen. John Fetterman broke ranks to vote yes.
Democratic proposal: Extend Affordable Care Act subsidies and reverse GOP-backed Medicaid cuts.
- Result: 47–45, falling short of the 60-vote threshold.

House Action and Johnson’s Position

Earlier Friday, the House narrowly approved the Republican short-term funding patch by a 217–212 vote. Only one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, supported the bill. Another Democrat, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), said she attempted to vote yes but was not recorded.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), aware of slim margins, celebrated the House passage but placed the burden squarely on Senate Democrats:

“The ball is in Chuck Schumer’s court. I hope he does the right thing. I hope he does not choose to shut the government down and inflict pain on the American people.”

Trump’s Influence and Shutdown Prediction

President Donald Trump, whose support is crucial for GOP unity, urged Republicans to back the House bill. He predicted a shutdown could result in “a closed country for a period of time,” while pledging continued support for the military and Social Security payments.

Democrats Press for Health Care Priorities

Democratic leaders framed their opposition as a defense of affordable health care. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) argued Republicans would “own a government shutdown” since they control the White House and Congress.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for direct negotiations, saying:

“The theater must end. Let’s sit down and negotiate.”

Democrats warn that without action, millions will face higher ACA premiums when subsidies expire. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) stressed the urgency:

“The ACA is going to hammer millions of people in the country, including in red states. That can’t be put off.”

Republican Counterpoint

Republicans countered that Democrats were attaching unrelated health spending demands to what should be a simple stopgap bill. Senate GOP Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) argued:

“All it takes is a handful of Democrats to join Republicans to keep the government open.”

Republicans also noted that Democrats voted repeatedly for clean continuing resolutions during the Biden years but now oppose them.

Next Steps and Uncertainty

With Congress recessed for Rosh Hashanah, negotiations won’t resume until Sept. 29 in the Senate and October in the House. That leaves only days before the shutdown deadline.

If no compromise emerges, federal agencies face closures, while essential services — such as military operations and Social Security payments — continue.

The standoff leaves Americans bracing for potential disruption while both parties maneuver to avoid blame in an increasingly partisan showdown.

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