Senate Democrats crash over supporting a plan they dislike. Discover how Elon Musk and Trump’s efficiency savings might transform government programs.
U.S. Democrats are close to voting to stop a shutdown. They worry that opposing the Trump administration could lead to serious consequences.
With just hours left, the Senate is in a tough spot. Democrats face two tough choices: they can vote, which could lead to serious consequences, or wait.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer gave his caucus days to voice their concerns about the options. But late today, he made it clear he would not allow a government shutdown.
His action gives Democrats a chance to team up with Republicans. This move enables a legislator to vote on the continuing resolution (or CR) as soon as Friday.
Senate Democrats plan to vote on a funding package they don’t like. This comes as the government faces a possible shutdown. This move lets billionaire Elon Musk and President Donald Trump cut funding for federal agencies.
On Saturday, Chunk Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, supported the House GOP’s seven-month plan. He said Democrats have limited options if Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency cuts programs during the shutdown.
A vote in the procedure.
Before the final vote later today, Saturday will be the first test. It will show if the package can get the 60 votes needed to continue. To advance the financing proposal, at least eight Democrats must work with Republicans.
Schumer said a halt could have serious effects on the United States. He also mentioned that the continuing resolution is not looking good.
Congress has been approving short-term extensions.
They can’t pass the yearly appropriations bills needed to fund the government. Now that the fiscal year is almost halfway through, the Senate’s proposal is the third such continuing resolution.
When Trump and his backer Elon Musk, Tesla important agencies.
Normal operations are unable to continue. Schumer said that a shutdown would be given to Donald Trump control over the city, the state, and the country. Only 48 hours earlier, the Democratic House Caucus endorsed Schumer’s proposal with almost unanimous Republican support, which has angered Democrats. This leads to a $300 million cut in FEMA assistance and a $1.2 billion loss in veteran benefits and firefighters support in Arizona.
By the end of September, this plan will somehow finance federal government operations. While small revisions result in a $6 billion rise in military expenditure, non-defense spending is reduced by about $13 billion compared to the previous year’s budget.
Democrats are against taking back $20 billion in IRS money.
Which was already revoked the previous year. Congress planned to boost the agency’s funding through Democratic legislation under Joe Biden. But the change cut that increase by half.
On Saturday, a White House official did not share more details. They talked about the president’s statements on the possible shutdown. They also mentioned the administration’s response and how it impacts DOGE’s work.
The GDP wants to extend tax benefits from Trump’s first term.
They plan to offer this with spending cuts in other budget areas. This is different from the spending package currently in the Senate.
Senator Sanders said you’re facing a tough situation.
First, there’s bad CR, then a reconciliation bill. This will hit the American people hard.
In their defense of themselves against Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the House Democrats assert that moral behavior is always desirable. They can justify their vote against the extreme MAGA Republicans because they stand with the American people.
But freshman senators like Ruben Gallegos of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, who were anticipated to back the funding arrangement, fiercely denounced the concept and indicated they wanted to use the issue to battle the president.
The Democratic arguments, according to Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., were disingenuous because they effectively advocated shutting down the government to defend it.
A government shutdown reveals the essential personnel and those who are not. Sen. James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma, says this is true now, especially during DOGE talks. He spoke in a public setting yesterday.
Cotton stated, “Democrats are battling to withhold the salaries of federal “cleaning personnel, our military, and flight controllers.” “ Their sincerity is questionable.”
The administration, not Congress, would decide the amount of money allocated to the Army Corps of Engineers for over $1,000 projects aimed at improving trade, flood management, and healthy ecosystems.
Democrats also take issue with how the District of Columbia is treated since, despite raising the majority of its funds, the law essentially repeals its current-year budget and requires it to return to levels from the previous year.
The district will need to reduce expenditure by $1.1 billion in a matter, according to Mayor Muriel Bowser.
On Thursday, Senator James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma, said that a government shutdown would imply that some people are valued more than others. This comes at the same time as talks about DOGE.
Funding for more than 1,000 projects that would enhance commerce, flood control, and healthy ecosystems would be determined by the administration rather than Congress.
In addition, Democrats criticize the District of Columbia’s treatment since the legislation effectively repeals its current-year budget and mandates that it revert to levels from the prior year, even though it raised the bulk of its money. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the district would have to cut spending by $1.1 billion in a few months.
What worries them more, however, are the bill’s discretionary spending powers given to the Trump administration. A “blank check” for Trump is what many Democrats are calling the plan.
During Thursday’s floor time, Senate majority leader John Thune and others argued that the closure is all the fault of Democrats. “Democrats need to decide. They can back the funding bill passed by the House or risk shutting down the government,” Thune said as he opened the chamber.
Democrats are forced to decide between backing House finance legislation and, unexpectedly, the government. “Opening chamber,” said Thune. Insistence on a 30-day delay, progressive groups urged Democratic legislators to reject the budget plan.
The Republican-controlled House swiftly adjourned for the summer vacation on Tuesday after the passage of a funding measure.
It was up to the senators to determine whether to fully oppose this measure or at least partially support it. For whatever reason, the Democrats’ insistence on a vote on another short-term extension was unacceptable to GOP leadership.
Senate’s Attempt to Abandon Partial Government Shutdown Moves Along.
- To avoid a partial government shutdown, Democrats are voting more because they worry about backlash from resisting the Trump administration.
- Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer supports the GOP leaders’ seven-month bill. This decision shows that Democrats understand they can’t reduce the harm to federally funded agencies.
- A voting procedure on the financing deal will occur on Saturday to see if the deal gets the necessary 60 votes to pass.
- Cutting $20 billion from the IRS special funds will hurt more than Democrats admit. They also don’t want to pull back the money. That would be like cutting the increase Congress planned in half.
- Newbie senators Gallegos and Slotkin oppose the finance bill. They plan to use this conflict to challenge the sitting president.
- Democrats oppose the leeway this gives the Trump administration to determine how to spend the allocated money.
- Senate Majority Leader Thune says it’s up to the Democrats to decide if the government shuts down during the budget period.
He instructed the head of the Democratic Caucus to either approve financing bills passed by the Lower House or to withdraw all government money.
During the shutdown, Schumer said Trump would have more authority because it would enable the administration to designate some agencies as nonessential, leading to staff furloughs. Shutting down would hand Donald Trump the keys to the city, state, and country, Schumer stated unexpectedly.