US Senate Set to Proceed with Stopgap Bill to Prevent Partial Government Shutdown, According to Reuters

By Moira Warburton, Richard Cowan, and Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate is preparing a stopgap spending bill to prevent a potential partial government shutdown, as indicated by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday. Meanwhile, House Republicans have not revealed their next steps.

"Time is not a luxury that Congress has right now," Schumer stated on the Senate floor. He mentioned that lawmakers would spend the upcoming days seeking a bipartisan agreement.

Congress must enact spending legislation before the new fiscal year begins on October 1 to avoid furloughing numerous federal employees and shutting down many government functions ahead of the November 5 election.

A proposed bill that sought to combine six months of funding with contentious election law modifications, which Democrats opposed, did not succeed in the Republican-controlled House on Wednesday.

Republican leaders in the House indicated on Thursday that they are developing a new strategy but did not share specifics. "We’re having conversations and drawing up the next play," House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters.

In addition to election regulations, there is disagreement between the two parties on the duration of the temporary funding extension. Johnson has supported a six-month extension, which would push the decision to the spring when Republicans could potentially gain control of both the White House and Congress.

Conversely, Democrats are advocating for a shorter three-month extension, which would necessitate Congress addressing the issue by the end of this year while Democratic President Joe Biden remains in office and Democrats retain control of the Senate.

A prolonged extension of the current $1.2 trillion funding plan would also impede government operations, preventing agencies like the Department of Defense from initiating new projects.