September 30 marks the end of the government’s fiscal year. One of Congress’s core responsibilities is to pass a budget. Right now, they’re at a stalemate. If Congress doesn’t act, the government shuts down.
Didn’t Congress just pass the One Big Beautiful Act (OBBA)?
Yes, but OBBA was a reconciliation bill. Reconciliation sets tax policy and broad spending targets. Appropriations, the actual year-to-year funding of the government, still must be passed, and those require 60 votes in the Senate. Republicans have 53 seats, which means Democrats finally have leverage.
Where do things stand?
House Republicans passed a stopgap bill to fund government through November 21. It failed in the Senate.
Senate Democrats offered an alternative stopgap that would:
Preserve ACA subsidies for 24 million people, preventing premium spikes of 50+%.
Block $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts over 10 years, protecting 10 million people’s coverage.
Keep rural hospitals open. The Republicans’ proposal puts nearly 400 at risk of closure.
Protect medical research from $18 billion in cuts (up to 40% of NIH funding).
Restores rescinded programs like NPR, PBS, and global health initiatives.
The Democratic proposal also failed to pass.
What Happens in a Shutdown?
“Non-essential” federal services halt: national parks close, passport/visa processing stops, and Medicare and Social Security claims are delayed.
“Non-essential” employees are furloughed; “essential” workers report without pay until the shutdown ends.
Shutdowns aren’t common, but they happen. There have been 13 in the last 50 years—including two major ones (16 days under Obama in 2013, 35 days under Trump in 2018–2019).
Why This One Is Different?
Trump’s first nine months in office have been defined by:
dismantling institutions,
funneling wealth to the rich,
cutting programs millions rely on, and
eroding democratic norms to consolidate power.
He has openly said he sees a shutdown as a chance to test presidential power, and even threatened mass firings instead of furloughs. A government shutdown might give Trump the fuel to escalate his authoritarian takeover of the federal government.
Why Democrats Must Hold the Line?
Within that reality, it would make sense to think the Democrats should do everything they can to avoid a shutdown. I’m not so sure that is the case.
Democrats are polling at historic lows (just 34% approval in Gallup, worse than Trump or the GOP). A big reason: their own voters have lost faith in their willingness to fight.
This budget fight is their chance to prove otherwise. Holding firm here isn’t just about policy. It’s about demonstrating leadership, protecting health care, and defending democracy.
What You Can Do
If no last-minute deal is reached, there will be a lot of finger-pointing, each side blaming the other side.
Here’s how you can help:
Stay informed. We’ll keep you updated.
Share talking points with your networks:
Republicans passed OBBA alone and refuse to negotiate. That’s why we’re here.
Shutting down the government is reckless. So is letting 16 million people lose health care. Democrats are fighting to stop both.
The GOP plan is simple: cut health care so the wealthy get richer.
Make it personal. For people on the ACA marketplace, share the Kaiser Family Foundation subsidy calculator so they can see what losing subsidies would mean for their premiums.
Bottom line: This fight isn’t just about keeping the lights on in Washington. It’s about whether Democrats will finally show they can defend Americans from Trump’s assault on health care, government, and democracy itself.