The US government could shut down Wednesday

The government faces a potential shutdown as funding expires at midnight on Tuesday. Lawmakers are in a stalemate over a government funding plan, with House Republicans proposing a seven-week continuing resolution that the Senate has rejected. The White House has threatened mass layoffs, particularly at the EPA, which is causing concern among congressional Democrats, though they publicly dismiss it as a tactic.

Democrats are determined to fight for healthcare changes and see this funding bill as their primary leverage for the year. They believe Republicans will bear the brunt of public blame for a shutdown due to their control of government branches. This stance marks a shift from earlier in the year when Democratic leadership was more averse to shutdowns, but now, they are responding to the demand from their base for more assertive action.

• The U.S. government's funding is set to expire at midnight on Tuesday, creating a risk of a government shutdown.
• A seven-week continuing resolution passed by the House was rejected by Senate Democrats.
• The White House has threatened mass layoffs as a consequence of a shutdown, with reports suggesting up to 90% of EPA staff could be affected.
• Democrats are leveraging the funding bill to push for healthcare changes and believe Republicans will be blamed for any shutdown due to unified government control.
• Democratic leadership has adopted a more combative stance, responding to pressure from their base for more assertive action.

Related Video Summary

• Trump plans Monday meeting ahead of government shutdown
• Senator Warner on Government Shutdown, H-1B Visas, Gabbard
• President Trump Signs Executive Orders, Sep. 19, 2025

Looming Government Shutdown [0:01]

• The U.S. government will run out of money at midnight on Tuesday if a deal to keep it open is not reached.
• Lawmakers are in a stalemate between President Trump and congressional Democrats over the current government funding plan.
• Federal workers are preparing for potential mass layoffs due to the shutdown.

This section outlines the imminent threat of a government shutdown and the key players involved in the dispute over funding.

The clock is ticking on a possible government shutdown.

House Republicans' Strategy [0:52]

• Speaker Johnson may keep the House in recess next week, even if government funding lapses.
• This tactic is seen as House Republicans playing hardball to pressure Senate Democrats.
• The House passed a seven-week continuing resolution to fund the government, which the Senate subsequently rejected.
• Speaker Johnson believes his chamber has fulfilled its duty by passing a bill, shifting the onus to the Senate.

The strategy involves using the recess to force Senate Democrats to accept the Republican funding proposal.

So by keeping his members on recess, he's trying to force Senate Democrats to fold here and support this Republican plan.

White House and Democratic Response [0:27]

• The White House is threatening to use the shutdown as a pretext for enacting mass layoffs.
• Democrat leadership is publicly dismissing these threats as meaningless.
• Behind the scenes, many congressional Democrats are very concerned about these potential mass layoffs, citing reports of up to 90% staff cuts at the EPA.
• Democrats view the threat of layoffs as extreme and not worth yielding to Republican demands.

This part highlights the administration's aggressive stance on layoffs and the internal concerns within the Democratic party.

But publicly, Democrats are saying, look, Donald Trump and his administration are already doing things which they feel are extreme.

Democrats' Leverage and Motivations [1:22]

• Democrats are holding firm, stating they will reject the bill unless major healthcare changes are included.
• They see government funding as their only point of leverage for the year.
• If they cannot secure healthcare changes through this bill, they believe they will have no other opportunities.

Democrats are prioritizing healthcare changes and using the funding bill as their primary negotiation tool.

And Democrats say if we cannot use this bill to get health care changes, then we have no other opportunities all year.

Blame Game and Party Stakes [0:23]

• The question of who will be blamed for a potential shutdown is being considered.
• Republicans control all branches of government, but Democrats who cannot provide votes to pass a bill could also face blame.
• For Democrats, they are looking at their left-wing voting base, who desire leaders to fight.
• A previous vote with Republicans in March led to a revolt among the activist class and grassroots Democratic base.

Both parties are strategizing on how to manage public perception and maintain support from their respective bases.

So what's happening now is Democrats, they think their voters want them to fight, at least for the government shutdown standoff.

Shift in Democratic Leadership's Stance [0:39]

• Earlier in the year, Chuck Schumer and allies faced backlash from progressives for voting to keep the government open.
• Now, Schumer has completely changed his tune, expressing a desire to force a fight.
• In March, Schumer considered a shutdown a worst-case scenario that would allow Trump to take extreme actions.
• Even with plans for mass layoffs, Schumer is still saying Democrats want to force this fight.
• This change is attributed to their awareness of the Democratic base wanting fighters, not leaders who associate with the establishment.

Democratic leadership has shifted to a more confrontational approach, influenced by the vocal demands of their constituents.

No, he's completely changed his tune.