Senate rejects funding bill, increasing chances of government shutdown

WASHINGTON — The House, led by Republicans, signed off on legislation funding the federal government through November. But Senate Republicans didn’t have enough support from Democrats to do the same, increasing the potential for a shutdown at the end of this month.

The bill supported by Republicans keeps most agencies funded at current levels but adds $88 million to pay for security for members of Congress and other top government officials following last week’s assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.

Senate Democrats also tried unsuccessfully to pass a separate measure Friday that funds the government, increases security funding but also permanently extends Obamacare subsidies that were used to make healthcare more affordable during the pandemic. That bill also failed after receiving no support from GOP senators.

The Senate’s 60-vote filibuster rules requires bipartisan support for most legislation. With neither government funding bill reaching that threshold Friday, lawmakers now must come up with a new plan to prevent most federal agencies from shuttering at midnight on Sept. 30.

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, an Atlanta Democrat who is up for re-election next year, said he hopes the next step is the parties working together on a solution.

“While President Trump has instructed the GOP not to negotiate with Democrats and to go it alone, I urge Congressional Republicans to work with us to find a bipartisan path forward and to prevent a massive increase in health insurance premiums for Georgia families,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, a St. Simons Island Republican who is also running for the Senate, was among the House Republicans who championed their vote in favor of the bill. He said it would allow the GOP to continue implementing President Donald Trump’s America First agenda.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, House Republicans did our job to ensure that our troops get paid, critical programs maintain funding, and the government’s lights stay on so we can continue the work of building a more prosperous and a safer America for all communities,” he said in a statement.

In the House and Senate, all but one Democrat opposed the measure, mainly because it does not include provisions to reverse Medicaid cuts outlined in the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed earlier this year and no extension of the Obamacare subsidies, which expire at the end of the year.

If the tax credits are allowed to sunset and the Medicaid cuts go into effect, it is estimated that millions of Americans will lose health coverage.

Two Republicans each in the House and Senate joined Democrats in voting against the bill. Georgia’s delegation split along party lines with all nine Republicans in favor and all five Democrats against the bill.

U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Atlanta, said in a statement that Republicans will shoulder the blame for refusing to consider extending the health care subsidies.