As the U.S. stopgap budget bill for next year faces hurdles in the Senate, the likelihood is growing that the federal government will enter a shutdown starting at midnight on the 1st of next month (local time). With President Donald Trump unilaterally canceling a scheduled meeting with Democratic leaders to reach a budget deal, Democrats are voicing concern, saying that regardless of whether a shutdown materializes, the Trump administration will be able to control the budget without congressional oversight.
According to the Washington Post on the 23rd, the U.S. Congress is currently struggling over passage of a short-term budget bill. The clash over the budget has arisen because Republicans and Democrats have failed to narrow differences over the federal budget for the next fiscal year (October 2025–September 2026). Democrats argue the bill must include an extension of the Obamacare subsidies, which expire at the end of this year, and a reversal of cuts to Medicaid (health insurance for low-income people). Republicans are strongly opposing this, saying, "We cannot spend massive tax dollars to provide free medical services to illegal immigrants." If the parties fail to reach a budget agreement by the 30th, starting on the 1st of next month, the U.S. federal government will enter a "shutdown" crisis in which, except for essential operations, administrative functions effectively halt.
Generally, when there is not enough time to agree on a budget, Congress passes a "continuing resolution (CR)" that freezes spending at current levels to buy negotiating time. Republicans proposed a seven-week "clean" stopgap bill with no conditions to keep the government running as it is through Nov. 21. Democrats countered with a four-week stopgap bill that added several demands, including restoring health insurance policies. The CR that passed the House under Republican leadership was defeated in the Senate on the 19th due to defections by some Republican senators, putting the shutdown effectively on a countdown.
According to the Washington Post, the reason Democrats are taking a hard line, even willing to risk a shutdown, is the widespread perception within the party that President Trump is ignoring Congress' constitutional prerogatives and running the government unilaterally. Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean said, "With the acquiescence of the Republican majority, the president has already seized Congress' constitutional authority," adding, "The Trump administration is exercising spending authority illegally." In fact, since Congress passed a six-month short-term budget extension in March, the administration has allocated funds contrary to Congress' existing guidance. In the process, funding for LGBTQ youth suicide prevention programs was cut, and some Education Department grants were shifted to charter schools in Republican-led states and certain universities.
Budget experts noted that past presidents respected Congress' authority over whether a budget bill passed, but the Trump administration is taking a different approach. Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer emphasized, "Since March, the situation has become completely different," adding, "Instances have emerged where the Trump administration illegally canceled or impounded expenditure." Charles Kiefer, a former Office of Management and Budget (OMB) official, said, "Disregarding norms and using funds selectively undermines the (Congressional) bargaining structure."
According to Democrats, whether the budget is extended or a shutdown occurs, both could end up strengthening the Trump administration's authority. Democratic lawmakers argue that the move by the Republican majority to extend the budget is effectively an attempt to skip this year's appropriations process. However, even if the budget fails to pass the Senate and leads to a shutdown, it is hard for Democrats to see it as a winning game. That is because the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) decides which departments will maintain "essential functions" when the federal government stops functioning.
Legal scholars also point out that the administration's discretion is broad during a shutdown. David Super, a Georgetown University professor, warned, "The administration could shut down as many departments as possible as a pressure tactic, or conversely, keep funding generously for certain programs based on political preferences." This is where concerns are emerging within the Democratic Party that a shutdown could actually strengthen the Trump administration's authority.
It will also be hard to avoid a blame game over the shutdown. In past cases, the side that drove the shutdown generally faced public criticism. Democrats are calling the failure to reach a budget deal a "Trump shutdown" and holding the administration responsible, while Republicans are pushing back with a "Democratic responsibility" argument, saying Democrats are making unreasonable demands.