Congress plays blame game as government shutdown threat inches closer
As the deadline for a potential government shutdown looms, Democrats and Republicans in Congress are gearing up to blame each other for the possible consequences. With just over 10 days left before the federal government runs out of money on March 14, negotiations are ongoing to avoid a partial shutdown.
Democratic Congressman Greg Landsman of Ohio criticized Republicans, who control Congress, for bringing what he called “one of the worst budget bills ever” to the floor. Meanwhile, congressional Republicans are looking at passing a short-term extension of last year’s federal funding, known as a continuing resolution (CR), potentially with modifications to align with President Donald Trump’s priorities.
The proposed CR may include additional funding for military readiness to address concerns from defense hawks. However, Democrats are demanding assurances that Trump will not unilaterally cut funds already appropriated by Congress, which Republicans have pushed back against.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole of Oklahoma expressed concern that Democrats’ demands were too high during a closed-door GOP meeting. The top Democratic negotiators released a statement accusing Republicans of walking away from bipartisan negotiations, raising the risk of a shutdown.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries avoided a question about whether Democrats would reject a funding bill that did not meet their demands. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Republicans for prioritizing Trump’s interests over averting a shutdown that would harm American families.
Since Republicans regained control of the House in 2023, any government funding bill signed into law has required Democratic support. Some Democrats argue that Republicans will bear full responsibility for a shutdown this year, as they control both chambers of Congress and the White House.
On the other hand, Republicans are preparing to blame Democrats for being unreasonable and potentially causing a shutdown. Representative Byron Donalds of Florida suggested that Democrats were not willing to address waste and inefficiency in government.
House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar emphasized the importance of collaboration in funding the government, warning that Democrats would not support a bill that does not prioritize vulnerable populations, community protection, and national security.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray stated that Democrats are negotiating in good faith but emphasized that Republicans, as the majority, must work with them to secure their votes.
As the deadline approaches, both parties are positioning themselves to shift blame in the event of a government shutdown. The stakes are high, and the outcome of negotiations will have significant implications for millions of Americans.
