The federal government is once again facing the possibility of a shutdown as the fiscal year nears its close.
Funding for fiscal year 2026 expires on September 30, and according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), “Congress has so far enacted zero of the 12 full-year appropriations bills to fund the government for FY 2026.”
On Friday, the Senate rejected a House-passed spending bill that narrowly cleared the lower chamber by a 217–212 vote.
The measure failed in the Senate after all Democrats except Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), along with Republicans Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Rand Paul (R-KY), voted against it.
The divide centers on competing priorities between the two parties.
Republicans are seeking additional resources for congressional security following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on September 10 and citing an increase in threats of violence.
Democrats, meanwhile, are demanding the continuation of premium subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as well as pursuing other policy goals.
On September 9, Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) publicly stated she was willing to let the government shut down unless Democrats secured provisions to defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), describing the agency as “rogue” and accusing it of carrying out a “racist mass deportation policy.”
Democratic leaders, including [1] Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), have positioned themselves in favor of holding firm even as they have called for direct talks with President Donald Trump on the issue.
Schumer pointed blame at the president and Republicans for the stalled funding process.
“With Trump, the American people’s costs are going up, his tariffs, their electric bills, the decimation of health care,” Schumer said.
“The American people want change, but the Republican bill is the status quo. And Trump is ready to shut down the government over it.”
With Trump, the American people’s costs are going up, his tariffs, their electric bills, the decimation of health care.
The American people want change, but the Republican bill is the status quo.
And Trump is ready to shut down the government over it.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 21, 2025 [2]
Warren also issued sharp criticism.
“No baby should lose health care. No senior should be kicked out of a nursing home. No rural hospital should close. That’s what Donald Trump and Republicans’ budget lets happen — all to make their billionaire buddies even richer. Democrats won’t let that stand,” she said.
No baby should lose health care.
No senior should be kicked out of a nursing home.
No rural hospital should close.
That’s what Donald Trump and Republicans’ budget lets happen — all to make their billionaire buddies even richer.
Democrats won’t let that stand.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) September 21, 2025 [3]
After the failure of temporary stopgap bills known as Continuing Resolutions, Schumer called for renewed talks.
“The theater must end. Let’s sit down and negotiate. … By not negotiating, [Republicans] are causing the shutdown,” he said.
In her own floor speech, Warren described the moment as critical for Democrats’ health care priorities.
“[T]his is our chance to restore health care for millions of people in this country. Right now is our small window of opportunity. The Democrats are ready to go. We want to seize this opportunity. It is only the Republicans who stand in the way.”
Both Schumer and Warren, however, have previously taken different positions on government shutdowns.
Warren once argued that passing a stopgap bill to “keep the doors open and lights on” was the “bare minimum” government should do.
FLASHBACK: @SenWarren [4]: “The bare minimum that we can do would be to pass a continuing resolution to keep the doors open and the lights on…Hostage tactics are the last resort for those who can’t win their fights through elections.”
What changed? pic.twitter.com/HZAMsbkWqs [5]
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 22, 2025 [6]
Last September, Schumer warned that “average Americans” would suffer in the event of a shutdown while claiming it could endanger Social Security benefits.
.@SenSchumer [7] last September: “If the government shuts down, it will be average Americans who suffer most… seniors who rely on Social Security could be thrown into chaos.”
Chuck is now trying to shut the government down over his hatred of @POTUS [8]. pic.twitter.com/fKA0Etd2l6 [9]
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 22, 2025 [10]
With Democrats lacking a majority in either chamber, their negotiating leverage is limited.
Warren herself described shutdown brinkmanship in the past as “hostage tactics” used by those unable to achieve their goals through elections.
As the September 30 deadline approaches, Congress remains locked in a standoff, with Republicans emphasizing security and Democrats pressing for expanded health care subsidies and other priorities.
Whether an agreement can be reached in time to prevent a shutdown remains uncertain.