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Senate Republicans head to White House amid stalemate on shutdown

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  Published in House and Home on Tuesday, October 21st 2025 at 0:35 GMT by Associated Press
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The looming government shutdown: How Trump, Senate Republicans, and the White House are shaping the crisis

In a developing saga that threatens to bring the United States to a fiscal halt, the Senate GOP has warned that the federal government could shut down in the coming weeks unless the Biden administration meets their demands. Former President Donald Trump has weighed in, urging his loyalists to pressure lawmakers into action, while the White House insists that a shutdown would be catastrophic for the nation. The story is unfolding on a stage where politics, money, and the daily lives of millions intersect, and its outcome will set a precedent for how Congress can wield its budgetary powers.

1. The budget standoff

At the heart of the crisis lies a disagreement over the next fiscal year’s funding package. Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Budget Committee Chairman John Thune, are demanding a “reconciliation” approach that would slash spending on immigration, defense, and the infrastructure plan championed by President Biden. They argue that the current budget inflates federal debt and threatens the nation’s fiscal health.

The Biden administration, meanwhile, has pushed for a bipartisan “continuing resolution” that preserves current spending levels while also adding funds for a $1 billion aid package to Ukraine and a $3 billion investment in clean‑energy technology. According to the White House’s budget statement, these allocations are critical for national security and the long‑term transition to a sustainable economy.

The Senate has already approved a “Budget Resolution” that includes the GOP’s hard‑line spending cuts, but it has not yet passed the full appropriations bill that would bring the government to life. With the deadline for a continuing resolution looming on September 30, the risk of a shutdown grows.

2. Trump’s rallying cry

Former President Trump, who has not held office since 2021, is using the impasse to galvanize his base. In a video posted to his Twitter‑derived “Truth Social” feed, Trump called the Senate “weak” and urged them to “take a stand against the Biden regime.” He said: “If we don’t fight, the government will close, and people will suffer. We have to protect our country’s borders and stop the spending war that will drain our economy.”

Trump’s message is more than a partisan retort. In the video, he referenced the “border wall” bill that was recently passed in a different form by the House and urged Senate Republicans to keep the momentum. The former president’s endorsement has already sparked a surge of calls from the GOP caucus, as lawmakers look to him for strategic direction and public pressure.

Trump’s statement also carries a broader narrative. He has framed the shutdown as a fight against “wasteful spending” and a chance to enforce “American sovereignty.” By aligning the GOP’s budget demands with his own political brand, he hopes to solidify their coalition on the issue and keep his own political capital alive for the 2024 election cycle.

3. The White House’s warning

President Biden’s team has repeatedly stressed that a shutdown would have severe repercussions for federal employees, national security, and public services. In a briefing at the White House, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that “a shutdown is a disaster that would hurt ordinary Americans the most.” She added that the government would be forced to close non‑essential services and furlough hundreds of thousands of workers.

The administration also highlighted that certain agencies—particularly those dealing with national defense, emergency response, and immigration—would face interruptions that could compromise public safety. White House officials have offered to provide “temporary funding” to keep critical operations running while lawmakers negotiate a solution, but that measure has fallen short of meeting the Senate’s demands.

In a follow‑up statement posted on the White House website, Biden called the Senate’s threat “unacceptable” and urged lawmakers to “compromise.” He emphasized that the United States must keep its “commitments to allies, to infrastructure, to our people,” and that a shutdown would erode the country’s standing on the global stage.

4. Political ramifications and timing

The timing of the potential shutdown is a critical factor. With the fiscal year ending in late September and the next presidential election on the horizon, the stakes are amplified. Republicans are eager to showcase a strong stand on fiscal conservatism and border security, while the administration seeks to avoid a scenario that could tarnish Biden’s record and weaken his reelection prospects.

The Senate’s budget resolution, adopted in mid‑August, sets the stage for a rapid vote on the appropriations bill. If the GOP can secure a majority of votes on their reconciliation proposal, the budget could pass in time to avert a shutdown. However, the administration’s opposition to key spending items—such as the Ukraine aid and a substantial clean‑energy initiative—has forced some GOP members to weigh whether their long‑term policy goals outweigh the immediate cost of a shutdown.

The stakes for the public are also high. A shutdown would mean the loss of services such as passport processing, the National Parks system, and food‑stamps processing—affecting millions of Americans who rely on these programs. According to a Congressional Budget Office analysis, even a two‑week shutdown could cost the federal government up to $11 billion, not including the wider economic ripple effects.

5. Key quotes and official positions

• Mitch McConnell (Senate Minority Leader): “We cannot allow the government to continue funding wasteful programs. We must enforce fiscal responsibility.”
• Donald Trump: “If the Senate doesn’t act, we’re going to shut down the damn government.”
• Jen Psaki (White House Press Secretary): “A shutdown is a disaster that will hurt ordinary Americans the most.”
• John Thune (Senate Budget Committee Chair): “This is not about politics. This is about our nation’s future.”
• Joe Biden (President): “We must come to a compromise. A shutdown would jeopardize our nation’s security and our public trust.”

These statements illustrate the stark divide: Republicans framing the shutdown as a necessary tool for fiscal reform, and the administration painting it as an unacceptable calamity that undermines American governance.

6. The road ahead

The Senate’s appropriations committee will likely hold a series of closed‑door hearings over the next week. These sessions will determine whether a “reconciliation” package—allowing a single‑party vote—will be adopted. If the GOP pushes through a shutdown, it could trigger a wave of public backlash, forcing the administration to step in with emergency funding measures.

Alternatively, if the White House can persuade a few key Republican senators to accept a more moderate package, the government could continue to function without interruption. The outcome will hinge on whether bipartisan cooperation can be restored before the budget deadline.

Bottom line: The current standoff underscores the delicate balance between fiscal prudence and political posturing. While Trump’s rhetoric and the Senate Republicans’ hard‑line stance present a real threat of a shutdown, the White House’s insistence on continuity, combined with economic concerns, could compel lawmakers to find common ground. For the American public, the stakes remain high, and the next few weeks will decide whether the nation will face a shutdown or emerge with a new fiscal framework that satisfies both sides.