AFTER TWO WEEKS, IS AN END IN SIGHT?
As of this week, the government will have been shut down for two weeks as a result of a disagreement within Congress on matters of federal funding bills. Leading up to the shutdown, both Democratic and Republican Congressmen presented their own versions of a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR), which is essentially a series of appropriations bills that temporarily continue government funding operations until there is a full budget passed.
According to crfb.org, “To avoid a shutdown, Congress would need to pass the 12 appropriations bills through both chambers and get them signed by the President by the end of the day on September 30. This could be done by enacting each bill individually or packaging them together through an omnibus or minibus.”
Otherwise, Congress would have to pass a continuing resolution. Typically, CRs are used to avoid government shutdowns whenever the regular appropriations bill is not enacted by the start of the fiscal year; however this time, it was unsuccessful as neither party could reach an agreement.
Being two weeks into the shutdown, Democrats and Republicans have been pointing fingers as to who is to blame for this continuous pause in government operations. Here is what known in the midst of Congress’ blame game:
The Republicans passed a “clean” CR (H.R. 5371) planning to fund the government through November 21, 2025. Within this CR, Republicans are looking at providing additional funding for security Members of Congress, Supreme Court Justices, and executive branch officials. In addition, the bill also consists of extending expiring programs and authorities including several public health, medicare and medicaid authorities and programs, various programs and authorities relating to veterans, and the special assessment on nonindigent persons or entities convicted of certain offenses involving sexual abuse or human traffiking.
This measure has failed to pass in the senate repeatedly, and this time was no different, lacking the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster.
The Democrats put forward a proposed CR (S.2882) that would have funded the government through the earlier of October 31, 2025. Within the bill it states that several expiring programs and authorities would be extended, including those related to health care, veterans, homeland security and agriculture. In addition however, this bill would have repealed health care provisions that are included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R.1 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act), including provisions that reduced the funding of medicaid. More specifically on this, some of the provisions listed within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act include (1) allowing Medicaid programs to verify that an individual holds U.S. citizenship and have the ability to do so with additional proof of identity, and (2) align certain Medicaid enrollment processes for those whose eligibility is not based on income with those who are eligible based on income.
Under Division B – Extensions and Other Matters Subtitle A of the Democratic proposed CR, they had put forward an extension for community health centers, National Health Service Corps, and teaching health centers that operate GME programs. This has raised concerns within the Republican party as this proposal would add roughly $1.5 trillion to the national debt within 10 years, and allow for healthcare of those with no verification of citizenship. This bill also failed the senate, having received primarily Democratic support.
Now What Happens?
During this government shutdown, the House of Representatives continues to operate, meeting and engaging in legislative activity to resolve the budget impasse. These activities include negotiating appropriations and holding sessions until a resolution has been met. When this has been met, the House of Representatives will vote to end the shutdown. So far, the Senate has failed to advance the GOP funding bill eight times, continuing to drag on the shutdown.
