Senate Braces for High-Stakes Government Shutdown Showdown Amid Deep Divisions

Congress is facing a looming government shutdown as the September 30 funding deadline approaches, with both Senate Democrats and Republicans deeply divided over spending bills and strategy. While the Senate has managed to advance its first spending package, Democratic leaders are struggling to unify their party on whether to use the threat of a shutdown as leverage against President Trump and the GOP. Bipartisan cooperation remains fragile, with some Democrats willing to negotiate and others pushing for a tougher stance. Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, fear that ongoing partisan battles could make a shutdown more likely. The outcome of these negotiations will determine whether the government remains funded or faces disruptive furloughs and service delays this fall.