Senate Democrats face tough decision on funding bill

Senate Democrats are deciding whether to support a Republican funding bill to avoid a government shutdown by midnight Friday. The House has already passed the bill, but Democrats are concerned about its lack of input and potential consequences of a shutdown. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the GOP for not including Democrats in the bill's creation. Only one Senate Democrat, John Fetterman, has publicly stated he would vote for the bill, while others express opposition and uncertainty about their votes. Some Democrats propose a four-week stopgap measure to negotiate spending bills, but many remain divided. The situation is complicated by the upcoming 2026 elections, with some Democrats fearing the political fallout from either supporting or blocking the funding bill.