Parties Clash as House Seeks to Avert Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON — Republican and Democratic lawmakers show no signs of budging as the House takes up a bill Friday to avert a partial government shutdown in less than two weeks. The measure would generally maintain current funding through Nov. 21, but Democratic leaders oppose it unless they have a seat at the negotiating table. House Speaker Mike Johnson has few votes to spare as he tries to unite Republicans behind the patch after past budget fights. President Donald Trump weighed in Thursday, urging House Republicans to pass the bill and place the political burden on Democrats.

In the Senate, Democrats rolled out their own funding plan to extend the enhanced health insurance subsidies set to expire at year’s end and to reverse Medicaid cuts included in Republicans’ earlier package. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer argued that the public would favor the Democratic approach and has repeatedly threatened a shutdown if health care is not addressed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the Senate would vote on the House bill if it passes, alongside the Democratic alternative, but both proposals are not seen as likely to reach the 60 votes needed for passage. If no agreement emerges, lawmakers could leave town until Sept. 29, one day before the Oct. 1 deadline.

Historically, the issue has split Democrats. In March, Schumer joined Republicans to keep the government open, a move that drew protests from some in his party. He argued at the time that a shutdown would be damaging and would give the White House room to pursue further cuts. The episode created friction with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who said he would not be complicit with Schumer’s vote. The two leaders now say they are united, and Schumer says things have changed since March.

Public sentiment remains wary of Trump and Republicans after Medicaid cuts, and Democrats appear to back Schumer’s demand for negotiations and support his threats of a shutdown, though it remains unclear how they would resolve it.

On the GOP side, lawmakers say blame would fall on Democrats if no funding bill passes. Representative Ralph Norman, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, said Democrats would welcome a shutdown but that if it happens the blame would rest with them. In the Senate, Senator John Barrasso, the No. 2 Republican, argued that Schumer previously said a clean continuing resolution would avert a shutdown, and that his current push could lead to a harmful outcome.