In a dramatic turn of events, the U.S. Senate rejected a House-passed stopgap funding bill on Friday, pushing the federal government closer to a potential shutdown by the end of the month.
The 48-44 rejection leaves Congress with just days to avert a shutdown set for 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 30, after both chambers adjourned until Sept. 29, as the New York Post reports.
The sequence of events began earlier in the week when President Donald Trump, on Monday, took to Truth Social to urge Republican lawmakers to back a short-term funding extension. He emphasized the need for unity among Republicans to counter what he described as demands from the opposing party. His message was clear in pushing for a temporary measure to keep government operations running.
On Wednesday, the White House reinforced this stance with a policy statement opposing any government shutdown. The statement called on all members of Congress to support a straightforward, short-term funding bill to maintain government functions while longer-term budget talks continue.
By Friday, the House of Representatives narrowly approved the stopgap funding bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), with a vote of 217-212. This measure aimed to sustain government funding at current levels through November 21, 2025.
However, support in the House was limited across party lines, with only Rep. Jared Golden of Maine among Democrats voting in favor. Two House Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Victoria Spartz of Indiana opposed the bill, with Spartz expressing concerns over timing and potential for rushed omnibus legislation.
Later that same day, the Senate took up the House-passed bill but rejected it with a vote of 48-44, falling short of the necessary majority. Only Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania broke party lines among Democrats to support it, while two Senate Republicans, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted against it.
Democratic Party leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, had made their opposition clear. They insisted on including protections for Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of 2025, potentially raising healthcare costs for many Americans.
Jeffries, speaking to reporters before the House vote, underscored their stance, saying, "We are a hard 'no' on the partisan Republican spending bill because it continues to gut the healthcare of everyday Americans." He further emphasized their commitment to preserving healthcare access.
Schumer, after the Senate vote, called for an end to political posturing, stating, "The theater must end." He urged both sides to come together for serious negotiations to resolve the impasse.
The rejected legislation also included additional security funding, allocating $58 million for the protection of federal officials and judges, split between $30 million for the executive branch and $28 million for Supreme Court justices. Another $30 million was designated to reimburse local law enforcement for safeguarding members of Congress.
Despite these provisions, other proposals, such as one by Rep. Laura Gillen of New York to add funding for federal grants to local law enforcement, were turned down. Gillen expressed her determination, saying, "I will continue to fight for this critical funding and urge Leadership to advance and emphasize the need to restore funding for our local law enforcement in any bipartisan government funding negotiations."
Adding to the complexity, both the House and Senate adjourned on Friday and are not scheduled to return until Sept. 29, leaving just two full days before the shutdown deadline. House Republican leaders have stated that no further votes will take place until Oct. 1, after the deadline passes.
In the Senate, GOP leaders are planning a second vote on the House package closer to Sept. 30, hoping to sway some Democratic support. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota highlighted past Democratic Party support for similar measures, saying, "Democrats voted in favor of clean CRs no fewer than 13 times during the Biden administration."
Thune added, "Yet now that Republicans are offering a clean CR, it’s somehow a no-go. It’s funny how that happens." With time running out, the risk of a government shutdown looms large, threatening to disrupt federal services and programs as Congress struggles to find common ground.