Shutdown Looms as House Rejects GOP Spending Bill

The House has rejected a GOP spending bill that would have required proof of citizenship to vote, leaving the government on the brink of a partial shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has blamed former President Trump and Republicans for a potential partial government shutdown after the House failed to pass a stopgap spending measure on Wednesday.

Schumer filed cloture on Thursday in a procedural move to act as quickly as possible once the House passes a continuing resolution (CR).

Shutdown Looms as House Rejects GOP Spending Bill

"By filing today, I am giving the Senate maximum flexibility for preventing a shutdown," Schumer explained.

The failure of the Republican-backed CR, which included a measure to require proof of citizenship in order to vote, has left lawmakers scrambling to avoid a shutdown before the beginning of October.

Shutdown Looms as House Rejects GOP Spending Bill

Democrats have made it clear that they are unwilling to support a package that includes the SAVE Act, which they consider a "poison pill."

Trump has weighed in on the spending fight, urging Republicans not to accept anything but a CR coupled with the SAVE Act.

Shutdown Looms as House Rejects GOP Spending Bill

Schumer has denounced Trump's interference, asking, "How does anyone expect Donald Trump to be a president when he has such little understanding of the legislative process?"

Republicans have expressed concerns that a potential partial shutdown would reflect poorly on the GOP, with one senator claiming that "Republicans will be blamed for it."

Shutdown Looms as House Rejects GOP Spending Bill

Schumer has labeled a potential partial government shutdown as a "Trump shutdown," foreshadowing how Democrats plan to cast blame on the presidential candidate and Republicans if a shutdown does ultimately take place.

Despite Republican calls for the inclusion of the SAVE Act in a spending bill, Schumer and Democrats have refused to budge, leaving the government on the brink of a shutdown.

Shutdown Looms as House Rejects GOP Spending Bill

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has brought a six-month CR with the SAVE Act for a vote, but it failed 202 to 220, with two members of his party voting "present."

Nine Republicans also voted against the stopgap spending bill, while three Democrats voted in favor of it.