Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has declared his opposition to a government shutdown as a potential shutdown looms on Friday (March 14). The Senate is currently at an impasse over a Republican-written stopgap funding bill, which aims to keep the government running until September 30. However, Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, have rejected the bill, citing concerns that it would give President Donald Trump too much control over federal spending decisions.
Fetterman, who has been vocal about the importance of keeping the government open, stated, "Voting to shut the government down will punish millions or risk a recession." He emphasized that he would not support a shutdown, even though he disagrees with many aspects of the continuing resolution (CR) passed by the House. The House measure, which was approved largely along party lines, proposes maintaining last year's spending levels with a $6 billion increase in defense spending and a $13 billion reduction in non-defense spending.
The bill requires at least 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a filibuster, meaning some Democratic support is necessary. However, Schumer has stated that the bill lacks the votes needed to advance. Democrats argue that the measure would allow the Trump administration to make significant unilateral changes to federal programs, potentially affecting areas like housing, healthcare, and research funding.
The standoff has left Congress with limited time to avert a shutdown. Schumer has proposed a shorter stopgap measure to extend funding through April 11, allowing more time for negotiations. Meanwhile, the House has adjourned, complicating efforts to reach a compromise before the deadline.
Links
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2025/03/12/fetterman-government-shutdown-republican-funding/stories/202503120059https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/us/politics/government-shutdown-funding-bill-senate-democrats.htmlhttps://www.cnn.com/2025/03/13/politics/senate-democrats-budget-shutdown-dilemma/index.html