September 2, 2025
Congress faces September 30 shutdown as Democrats demand leverage
GOP controls Congress but still needs Democratic votes to avoid shutdown
💵Tax & Budget🏛️Government🏢Legislative Process
Congress returned September 2, 2025, confronting government shutdown risk as federal funding expires September 30.
Republicans control both chambers but need Democratic Senate votes to overcome filibusters, giving minority party unprecedented leverage to demand Medicaid restoration and rural hospital funding in exchange for preventing closure.
Congress returned from six-week August recess on September 2, 2025, immediately confronting a government funding crisis with federal operations set to halt on September 30 if no continuing resolution passes
Republicans control both the House and Senate but need at least seven Democratic senators to overcome any filibuster on funding legislation, giving minority party unprecedented leverage in shutdown negotiations
Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and 
Hakeem Jeffries are demanding restoration of cuts to Medicaid and rural hospital funding in exchange for their votes on any continuing resolution
President Trump indicated willingness to meet with Democratic congressional leaders ahead of the September 30 deadline but expressed public skepticism about their willingness to negotiate in good faith
A government shutdown would suspend paychecks for approximately 2 million federal workers while forcing essential services like air traffic control, border security, and military operations to continue with unpaid staff
The current continuing resolution system forces Congress to manufacture artificial budget crises every few months instead of passing annual appropriations bills through regular legislative process
Historical precedent shows that the party controlling the presidency typically receives blame for government shutdowns, creating political pressure on Trump to avoid closure while maintaining negotiating leverage
💵Tax & Budget🏛️Government🏢Legislative Process
People, bills, and sources
What You Can Do
1
Contact your representatives at 202-224-3121 to demand they pass clean continuing resolution without political games
2
Join government accountability groups like Common Cause pushing for regular budget order instead of crisis governance
3
Support federal employee unions like AFGE that advocate for stable funding and worker protection during shutdowns
4
Track shutdown impact data through Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget at crfb.org
5
Contact Senate Appropriations and House Budget Committees demanding return to annual budget process
6
Join civic organizations advocating for institutional reform that prevents routine shutdown threats