The House of Representatives is expected to vote on a stopgap funding bill this week to keep the government open before the March 14 deadline. The bill would continue funding at its current rate until Sep. 30.
While Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has expressed confidence that the bill will pass, its fate appears uncertain, especially since House Democrats appear united in voting against it. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has also said he would vote against the bill, meaning Republicans can’t afford to lose any more votes.
If the bill passes the House, the situation in the Senate becomes more interesting. Senate Democrats appear more willing to vote for a continuing resolution than their House counterparts.
“We need a short-term CR,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said. “The Republicans are already shutting down government. We need a short-term CR so that we can get our funding back on track.”
Warren’s statement exemplifies Democrats’ fears of a government shutdown. They don’t want Elon Musk to pressure government workers into retirement as part of his cuts with the Department of Government Efficiency, especially after passionately defending government workers in the past few months. If the government remains closed for more than a few weeks, government workers may need to look for other jobs.
By keeping the government open, Democrats will be more likely to have an argument against Musk if he decides to go through with more cuts anyway.
At the same time, Democrats are trying to avoid giving the appearance of caving to President Donald Trump, who supports a CR. Trump is almost certain to claim a victory in his team’s negotiations if Congress is successful in reaching an agreement. Democrats likely want to avoid giving Trump the appearance of a political win, even if it is just a compromise.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has already said that Republicans will be at fault in the event of a shutdown. It is in his best interest to at least negotiate a deal. If House Republicans turn him down, Jeffries will be justified in blaming the GOP.
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Republicans should fight to reach a deal. Although some, like Massie, fear that it will further increase the budget deficit, it will only be temporary.
It is not ideal, but a CR will allow for negotiations while keeping the government open. Trump will be able to move his policies forward more easily, and Congress will have an extra six months to work out a deal.