^{Photo: The Seattle Times}

Countdown to a Shutdown

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are once again on the clock. Federal funding is set to expire at midnight on September 30, and unless Congress can strike a deal, the U.S. government faces yet another shutdown. While a short-term continuing resolution (CR) is the most likely path forward, deep divisions between Republicans and Democrats threaten even that option.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has placed the blame squarely on Democrats, saying any shutdown would occur because they rejected “common sense solutions to fund the government.” Democrats, meanwhile, argue that Republicans are pushing the country toward the brink by clinging to partisan demands tied to Donald Trump’s domestic agenda.

Stopgap or Stalemate?

Republican leaders are considering a CR to extend current funding levels temporarily, buying more time for negotiations. However, passing such a measure in the Senate requires 60 votes, meaning at least some Democratic support. Senate Democrats, already under pressure after past concessions, appear unwilling to provide those votes without key policy reversals — especially on Trump-era Medicaid cuts.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has stressed the need for bipartisan cooperation, warning that Republicans’ “go-it-alone” approach risks pushing the nation into a shutdown. Democrats are demanding restoration of health care funding as a precondition for any support, setting the stage for a high-stakes standoff.

Trump’s Influence and New Complications

Former President Trump’s influence looms large over the debate. While once open to shutdown brinkmanship, Trump now shows more willingness to accept a short-term CR, following the passage of his “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”. Still, Democrats are resisting, calling for Medicaid cuts in that package to be rolled back.

The White House supports a “clean CR” — one without policy riders — to keep agencies funded at current levels through the end of the year. But Trump’s recent move with OMB Director Russell Vought to rescind $5 billion in foreign aid has further inflamed tensions. Critics, including some Republicans, argue the maneuver is both risky and possibly unlawful, making bipartisan compromise even harder to achieve.

High Stakes for Lawmakers

The consequences of a shutdown are severe: hundreds of thousands of federal workers could face furloughs, government services would be disrupted, and financial markets could react sharply. Past shutdowns have cost the economy billions, and with the 2026 midterms on the horizon, both parties are eager to shape the political narrative.

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) underscored Democrats’ position, declaring that if Republicans want Democratic votes, they must first restore the health care benefits slashed in Trump’s package. On the other side, Speaker Johnson maintains that Republicans are the only party working to keep the government open.

Path Forward

If Congress cannot agree on a long-term spending plan, a series of short-term CRs could keep the government running into 2025. However, passing all 12 annual appropriations bills before the deadline is virtually impossible, leaving CRs as the only realistic path.

As Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) warned, unilateral moves like the OMB’s rescission plan “risk throwing the entire process into chaos.” With time running short, both parties must navigate policy fights, political pressures, and Trump’s outsized influence to prevent a shutdown that would ripple across the economy.