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With just days left before a government shutdown, Senate Democrats are rejecting a House-passed six-month funding bill, demanding a shorter-term solution to keep the government open. The standoff has intensified partisan divisions, leaving the fate of federal agencies uncertain as the Friday midnight deadline approaches.
On Tuesday, House Republicans passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through September in a narrow 217-213 vote. The measure has the backing of President Donald Trump, who has urged Congress to finalize the bill. However, Senate Democrats argue they were shut out of the negotiation process and are pushing for a clean, one-month extension to allow further bipartisan talks.
“Funding the government should be a bipartisan effort, but Republicans chose a partisan path,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday on the Senate floor. “Because of that, they do not have the votes to pass their bill.”
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Democrats are particularly opposed to the House bill’s cuts to non-defense domestic programs and what they see as excessive military spending. Some also want additional safeguards to limit the authority of Elon Musk, who has been tasked with overseeing the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“There are not the votes right now to pass it,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told reporters. “Democrats had nothing to do with this bill, and we want an opportunity to get an amendment vote or two.”
Despite strong opposition, some Senate Democrats are weighing the consequences of rejecting the bill. A government shutdown could impact millions of Americans, including federal workers, military personnel, and social services recipients.
“Quite frankly, both outcomes are bad,” Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) said. “If it passes, it will hurt a lot of ordinary people on the ground. If the government shuts down, that will also hurt a lot of ordinary people.”
Republicans, meanwhile, insist the House bill is the best path forward. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) dismissed the Democrats’ push for a short-term CR, saying, “There’s really one solution on the table that keeps the government funded.”
The White House has pressured Republicans to pass the six-month measure to free up legislative bandwidth for other key priorities, including border security and tax reforms. House Democrats, however, are urging Senate colleagues to stand firm.
“We’re asking Senate Democrats to vote no,” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) said at a party retreat. “Every bad thing that happens with DOGE, Trump, and Musk can be traced back to this vote.”
With the deadline fast approaching, both parties face mounting pressure to find common ground. If no deal is reached, the government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, leaving agencies without funding and federal employees without pay.
Will Congress Find a Last-Minute Solution?
The fate of the government funding bill now rests in the Senate, where Republicans need at least eight Democratic votes to break a filibuster. With tensions high and time running out, the question remains: Will Democrats hold the line, or will enough senators break ranks to avert a shutdown?
