Senate Prepares Stopgap Spending Votes as Oct. 1 Shutdown Deadline Nears

The U.S. Senate is preparing for critical votes on two short-term spending bills this Friday, as lawmakers rush to avoid a potential government shutdown ahead of the October 1, 2025 deadline.

Earlier in the day, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on and potentially approve the GOP’s seven-week “clean” continuing resolution (CR). If passed, the bill would move to the Senate for consideration.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) confirmed the chamber’s plan late Thursday: “We are going to do that,” he told reporters.

However, both the Republican and Democratic proposals are widely expected to fail. Thune indicated he would move to reconsider the GOP plan and schedule additional votes closer to the shutdown deadline. He also noted it is “unlikely” that the Senate will return next week, as the chamber is set to recess for the Jewish High Holidays and reconvene on September 29.

The Republican bill would extend government funding until November 21, maintaining fiscal 2024 spending levels. GOP lawmakers argue this temporary measure will give appropriators time to negotiate a longer-term budget deal for fiscal 2026.

The Democratic proposal, on the other hand, seeks to restore nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts from the GOP’s earlier spending bill and includes a permanent extension of enhanced health insurance premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. These subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year, making them a top Democratic priority.

“The contrast between the Democratic budget proposal and the Republican proposal is glaring,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). “Republicans want the same old status quo, rising costs, declining health care. Democrats want to lower costs and improve healthcare access.”

Republicans, however, remain firm. Thune emphasized that the subsidies are “not up for negotiation,” especially in a stopgap bill intended to keep the government funded for less than two months. GOP leaders urged Democrats to support the clean resolution, pointing out that similar measures have passed more than a dozen times in recent years.

With the shutdown deadline approaching, the standoff highlights deep divisions in Congress over government spending, healthcare funding, and fiscal priorities.

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Stella Muigai