Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray are resolute in their decision to move forward with the original stopgap spending bill plan, despite opposition from billionaire Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump.
Murray emphasized her readiness for a potential partial government shutdown and willingness to remain in Washington, D.C., over the Christmas holiday if Republicans do not revert to the initial short-term spending bill that was previously proposed.
Expressing concerns over the escalating national debt, which stood at over $36 trillion as of Thursday, Murray criticized the influence of unelected individuals like Musk in shaping government policies.
Schumer echoed the sentiment, urging Republicans to cooperate in a bipartisan manner to prevent a government shutdown. He called for a return to the bipartisan agreement reached just days ago and urged the House to vote on the bipartisan continuing resolution.
Murray stressed the importance of honoring the agreed-upon deal, which includes funding for the government, disaster relief, and bipartisan policy reforms. She emphasized the need to avoid chaos and costly shutdowns driven by external influences.
Following opposition from Musk, Trump, and Vice President-elect JD Vance, the fate of the spending bill remains uncertain. House Republicans were reportedly considering a new proposal, but it is unclear if negotiations are ongoing across party lines.
While some Republicans have indicated a willingness to allow a shutdown if a better deal cannot be reached, Trump placed the responsibility on the Biden administration to resolve the issue before his term ends.
Congress faces a tight deadline to pass a measure before midnight on Saturday to avert a partial government shutdown.
