Congressional Democrats are threatening to shut down the federal government unless Republicans agree to their $1.5 trillion spending demands, according to a White House statement.
The standoff risks leaving millions of Americans without government services after the September 30 funding deadline.
Republicans proposed a seven-week continuing resolution to keep the government running through November 21. Democrats countered with a four-week extension that “tacks on a laundry list of other demands,” including permanent extension of Obamacare insurance subsidies, according to Politico.
“Democrats, unable to slow Trump’s agenda or even garner much media attention for their efforts, are under increasing pressure to risk a shutdown,” Bloomberg reported. The outlet noted that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer backed down from a similar threat in March but is taking a harder line this time.
The New York Times confirmed that “Senate Democrats on Friday blocked Republicans’ plan to keep federal funding flowing past a Sept. 30 deadline, demanding concessions on health care and other issues in exchange for their support for a measure needed to avert a government shutdown.”
Democratic senators told The Hill that defeating the Republican proposal is “necessary” to “send a message” to President Trump. Some party members view the shutdown threat as their only leverage against the administration.
The Washington Examiner characterized the Democratic counterproposal as including “a Democratic wish list of other policies that are non-starters for the GOP.” These additions go beyond basic government funding to include partisan policy priorities.
CNN reported internal Democratic divisions over the strategy: “Party leaders and rank-and-file are publicly projecting a united front, and many Democrats are truly eager for a fight with Trump. But behind the scenes, some are also worried about the party’s exit strategy if Trump and the GOP refuse to cave.”
The concerns appear justified. Politico noted that Democrats are “flirting with a politically risky shutdown without a firm exit plan or even an idea of what victory might look like.”
With less than a week until the funding deadline, neither side shows signs of backing down. The impasse leaves federal workers and government services in limbo as political calculations take precedence over basic governance and public service.