US Government Faces Partial Shutdown as Democrats Reject House Spending Bill

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated on Wednesday that Democrats will not support the House Republican-passed bill to fund the federal government through September. This stance makes a partial government shutdown highly probable, starting at 11:59 p.m. on Friday. Schumer cited the partisan nature of the Republican-drafted continuing resolution, noting the lack of Democratic input. He affirmed that the Democratic caucus is unified in support of a clean April 11 continuing resolution, which would allow time for bipartisan negotiations. Given the Senate's 53-47 Republican majority and the 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster, the spending bill requires support from at least seven Democrats to pass. The House approved the bill 217-213 on Tuesday night. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the House would recess until March 24, putting pressure on Schumer to either accept the bill or face a shutdown.