Congressional Republicans celebrated a significant win this summer after passing President Donald Trump’s sweeping package of tax and spending cuts dubbed his “big beautiful bill without a single Democratic vote. But as lawmakers return from their August recess, the mood in Washington is shifting toward confrontation, with a looming government shutdown dominating the fall agenda.
Federal funding is set to expire on Sept. 30, forcing Congress to act quickly. Lawmakers will need to pass a temporary spending measure to keep the government running for several weeks or months while negotiations continue on a longer-term package. But Republicans, despite their majority, will need Democratic support to avoid a shutdown and Democrats are expected to demand significant concessions in exchange for their votes.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer already faced sharp criticism from members of his own party after siding with Republicans in March to avert a shutdown. That experience highlights the political risks ahead for both parties as the deadline approaches.
The funding fight is not the only issue on the table. Senate Republicans are weighing whether to change procedural rules to overcome Democratic stalling tactics on nominations, while also debating legislation that would impose heavy tariffs on some of Russia’s trading partners as part of U.S. efforts to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.
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