Now that they’re back from their August recess, members of the U.S. Congress have until the end of the month (Sept. 2025) to agree upon the next federal budget or they face a government shutdown.
South Dakota Senator and Senate Majority Leader John Thune does not want that shutdown to happen.
“I think it’s in everybody’s interest to avoid a government shutdown at the end of September, which, as you all know, is when our fiscal year ends.”
For Republicans, Thune says spending is a big concern.
“We very much want to see restraint in spending so that we can start dealing with the debt and deficits. And I think at least right now, the best way to do that is to have a normal appropriations process.”
But top Senate Democrat and New York Senator Chuck Schumer argues it’s not normal if President Donald Trump and the Republicans claw back dollars that lawmakers have passed– like they did with foreign aid and rural, public broadcasting.
“Recissions, impoundment, pocket recissions directly undo this. And I said this about Senator Thune. You can’t say you want a bipartisan process, which you said yesterday, and at the same time put recissions on the floor, which is the antithesis of bipartisan.”
Trump has said he’ll meet with House and Senate Democratic leaders to discuss a funding deal, but he expects another stopgap continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown.
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