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By Hugh Cameron
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The U.S. government is facing a potential shutdown this week, as lawmakers struggle to agree on an emergency spending package.
What's New
A continuing resolution (CR)—a temporary spending bill that Congress can use to fund the federal government in the short term—was expected over the weekend, with votes taking place this week.
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However, the text of the CR, which would have freed up emergency funding for at least the first few months of 2025, hasn't yet been announced, giving lawmakers only a slim window to pass the bill before Friday's midnight deadline.
Why It Matters
The 60-vote threshold means that passing a government funding bill in the Senate will require bipartisan support, as neither party currently holds a large enough majority to meet this requirement alone.
"There are a lot of things I would prefer. But realistically, we're not going to put together a budget between now and Christmas," Republican Senator John Kennedy told NBC News. "It's not going to happen."
As a result, the stopgap funding bill is Congress' only chance of averting a government shutdown, though Democrats and Republicans are locked in disagreement over what to include in the temporary measure.
What to Know
As reported by The Hill and The Washington Post, the CR has faced delays as Republicans campaigned for more economic assistance for American farmers, in addition to an extension of the 2018 farm bill already included in the funding package.
Assistance to the survivors of this year's storm season has also become a sticking point, with Democrats Debbie Stabenow and David Scott saying on Saturday that the Republicans' latest proposal "steals from critically needed assistance to address recent natural disasters."
Democrats are also reportedly pushing for funding to rebuild the Francis Scott Bridge, which was destroyed in March after being struck by a container ship.
What People Are Saying
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), remarks on the Senate floor, December 2: "We need to keep divisive and unnecessary provisions out of any government funding extension, or else it will get harder to pass a CR in time."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), remarks on the Senate floor, Monday: "Extending government funding by Friday is our top priority. Shutting the government down is a one-way ticket to needless disruption of important functions. It has never been a winning proposition, and this time is no different."
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Senator John Kennedy (R-LA), statement to NBC News: "I expect us to have a CR probably through the middle of March. I expect that CR to be pretty thin."
Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), press release, Saturday: "As farmers have faced growing and serious losses this year, we have put forward a package of $12 billion of relief for economic losses and $16 billion in weather-related assistance that we're working to secure in the end-year Continuing Resolution. Republican leadership has supported this offer, and we have made a straightforward proposal to Democratic leadership to come to the aid of farmers and ranchers across the country. While we have kept this proposal clean of potentially partisan additions, we have not yet received the Democratic support we need. We encourage the nation's farmers, ranchers, and agriculture stakeholders to let their representatives know how critical it is for the Continuing Resolution to include both economic and weather agriculture assistance for America's producers."
Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX), via X, Sunday: "I am distressed by the news that the planned government funding bill to reach the House floor this week will not include funding for our farmers and ranchers. The agricultural community is the backbone of not just TX-17, but our entire nation. I will vote NO to any Continuing Resolution that does not include economic support for our farm and ranch families."
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Representative David Scott (D-GA), statement on the ongoing negotiations, Saturday: "For weeks, congressional Democrats have provided a pathway to a farm bill extension that will deliver tens of billions of dollars in economic assistance and investments in farm bill programs that farmers rely on. Republican Leadership turned down this $10 billion proposal, rejecting needed economic assistance and increased conservation spending for decades. It is important to stress that this proposal is paid for and does not take any funding away from the critical natural disaster aid that has been requested."
What Happens Next?
Congress faces a deadline of midnight on Friday to approve the CR, with both the House and Senate needing to hold confirmatory votes to ensure its passage. If it fails to pass, a partial shutdown will take effect, causing discretionary government functions to be suspended or scaled back to reduced operations.
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