The Republican-controlled House of Representatives Friday passed a short-term spending bill that would avoid a partial government shutdown on Oct. 1, but it fell short in the Senate where Democrats have the votes to block the measure.
The bill, which passed 217-212 almost entirely along party lines in the House, would generally extend current government funding levels through Nov. 21.
The Senate later rejected the bill by a wide 44-48 margin, with several GOP lawmakers missing the vote.
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk on the South Lawn after their arrival to the White House on Thursday. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Congressional Democratic leaders say Republicans must negotiate over some of their demands on health care spending and other issues if they want the Democratic support needed to overcome a Senate filibuster and get a bill to President Trump’s desk.
House Speaker Mike Johnson portrayed the bill as a plain vanilla effort to give lawmakers more time to negotiate spending for the entire year.
“We were very careful. We put no partisan measures in this. There’s no poison pills. None of that,” Johnson said.
Hours after the House acted, the Senate rejected the GOP plan. It also failed to pass a dueling Democratic proposal, which calls for reversal of some of the unpopular health cuts in Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.
Both chambers of Congress are expected to leave town for a recess for the Jewish holidays until Sept. 29, leaving just over a day to iron out a compromise that could keep the government funded.
If the government shuts down, some mandatory services, such as Border Patrol, the Postal Service and Social Security, will continue. But federal workers, including military service members, will go unpaid until a spending plan is enacted.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said Democrats are working to protect the health care of the American people.
“Republicans will own a government shutdown,” he said. “Period. Full stop.”
“Public sentiment will be on our side,” added Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
Schumer in March agreed to provide Republicans with enough votes to pass a similar measure to keep the government funded, arguing a shutdown would hurt vulnerable Americans and allow Trump to make even harsher government cuts.
He appears to be taking a much harder line approach this time around, with Trump’s approval ratings lower and Democrats eyeing a potential political advantage as next year’s midterm elections draw closer.
