The US government teeters on the brink of collapse as the November midterms loom, with a stopgap spending bill serving as a last-ditch effort to prevent an unprecedented shutdown. Passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, this continuing resolution now faces a treacherous path through the Senate, where bipartisan support is essential for its passage.
Republicans in the House championed the measure, arguing it was necessary to pre-empt Democratic obstruction in the Senate, which has consistently blocked funding measures in recent years. This concern stems from previous instances, including last year's 43-day funding dispute over healthcare tax credits and two further impasses this year related to immigration enforcement reforms.
The US Constitution mandates Congress to authorise government spending, with both the House and Senate typically aiming to pass 12 individual appropriations measures annually. However, these deadlines are frequently missed, leading to the regular use of continuing resolutions to extend departments' operational capabilities. While the House has passed three appropriations measures for the 2027 fiscal year, which begins on 1 October, the Senate has not yet advanced any, with talks between leading Democrats and Republicans reportedly far apart on spending figures.
Despite the House's action, the bill faces significant opposition in the Senate, where Democratic leaders have expressed concerns over its hastily conceived allocation of funds for border patrol. Critics argue that this provision lacks 'substantial reforms' to the agency, which played a pivotal role in former President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
Should the Senate fail to pass this measure, funding negotiations are expected to intensify from September, following Congress's return to Washington D.C. after its August recess. These upcoming discussions will be complicated by the looming midterm elections, where Democrats are hoping to regain control of both the House and potentially the Senate, requiring them to secure at least three additional seats in states that supported Trump two years ago.