With another funding cliff approaching just ten weeks away, democratic leaders are taking a more moderate approach to their strategy, aiming for a bipartisan solution rather than the possibility of a government shutdown. While they remain furious with the Trump administration and their Republican counterparts for undermining previous funding talks, the party is taking a more moderate approach to avoid a potential government shutdown.
In the House, Republicans are advancing deep spending cuts, including conservative policy riders that are designed to limit abortion access, block gun regulations, and counter diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Meanwhile, in the Senate, Democrats have more leverage, but they are hesitant to commit to a shutdown threat unless their demands are met. They are relying on their leverage to ensure the resulting legislation aligns with their goals.
Democrats have a difficult task on their hands as they are trying to balance their desire to shape the legislation with the challenge of preventing Trump and his allies from overriding the funding decisions made by Congress. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the Trump administration is already taking unilateral actions to reduce the size of the federal government, which has been approved by Congress.
The political landscape is complex, with some Republicans expressing sympathy for the Democratic position and others still backing Trump’s decisions. While there is hope for bipartisan cooperation, the Democrats are facing an uphill battle to convince enough Republicans to support their funding agenda. They will need to find a way to push back against Trump’s actions while maintaining some level of cooperation with their congressional colleagues, particularly in the Senate, where there is a greater opportunity for bipartisan agreement.