URGENT UPDATE: Congress is racing against the clock with just less than 24 hours remaining to prevent a potential government shutdown at 12:00 AM tomorrow. Senate Republicans are poised to give Democrats one final opportunity to back their funding plan, but signs indicate that a resolution is unlikely, with both parties entrenched in a bitter standoff.
The stakes are high as the clock ticks down. The impasse, primarily revolving around billions in enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, threatens to plunge the nation into its first funding lapse during President Donald Trump’s second term. Following a high-profile meeting between Trump and top congressional leaders, no progress was made, leaving little hope for a last-minute deal.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is scheduled to push for another vote on the GOP funding plan, which Democrats have already rejected. This tactic aims to intensify pressure on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has stated that the fate of government funding lies in Trump’s hands.
“It’s now in the president’s hands. He can avoid a shutdown if he gets the Republican leader to go along with what we want,” Schumer declared Monday evening. However, Republicans accuse Schumer of jeopardizing funding over negotiations for tax credits, asserting that such discussions should not hinder the government’s operation.
Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri voiced concerns about linking the two issues, stating, “I don’t understand what shutting down government has to do with that.” He emphasized the importance of separating critical funding from policy debates.
As the deadline approaches, the GOP is confident that public pressure will force Democrats to relent. Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson believe that Democrats will begin to feel the heat as federal services face disruption, and federal employees risk furloughs or layoffs.
Senator Eric Schmitt criticized Schumer, claiming that the potential shutdown would ultimately be a failure of Democratic leadership, stating, “Chuck Schumer is afraid of his own shadow.”
The Republican strategy includes a continuous series of votes on the funding bill until Democrats agree. Senate GOP leaders assert that even if a shutdown occurs, it will be brief as they anticipate a backlash from constituents over lost services.
Democratic leaders have made it clear they want concessions on health care, particularly regarding the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid cuts implemented under Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Senator Peter Welch voiced the urgency of this matter, saying, “We can’t leave Vermonters and Americans high and dry.”
With imminent consequences for millions, Senator John Fetterman warned of the chaos that a shutdown could unleash, emphasizing the human impact: “Millions and millions of lives will be upended.”
As the clock ticks down, negotiations remain fraught, with both sides entrenched in their positions. The next few hours will be critical as Congress attempts to find a path forward before the government potentially grinds to a halt.
Stay tuned for live updates as this developing situation unfolds.
