Senate Democratic leader promises to prevent government shutdown in US
US Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (photo: Getty Images)
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced his intention to support a bill funding US government operations. This provides a real opportunity to prevent another government shutdown, according to CNN.
"I believe it is my job to make the best choice for the country to minimize the harms to the American people. Therefore, I will vote to keep the government open and not shut it down," Schumer said during his speech.
At the same time, the Democratic leader criticized Republicans for insisting on their government funding bill through September. According to him, Democrats face a choice: pass a package they despise or risk a government shutdown.
"This, in my view, is no choice at all. While the CR bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse," Schumer said.
He reiterated arguments made by other Senate Democrats over the past few days, warning that a government shutdown would give President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) more freedom to cut federal spending.
Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune stated that he had not spoken with Schumer since their afternoon meeting with Democrats but noted that their negotiations are ongoing.
"Schumer’s support for the GOP procedural step indicates that enough Senate Democrats will vote with Republicans to advance the House-passed bill and avert a shutdown at midnight," CNN suggests.
US government shutdown
In the US, a government shutdown refers to a situation where part of the American government is forced to suspend operations due to the lack of an approved budget.
The last deadline for approving funding for the 2025 fiscal year ended on December 20, 2024. On the second attempt, both chambers of Congress approved a bill for temporary government funding until March 14, 2025.
Recently, Republican leaders in the House of Representatives introduced a bill for temporary government funding until September of this year. Initially, Democrats refused to vote for the bill, calling it a power grab for the White House.
