Republicans Push for Government Funding Extension to Avoid Shutdown

As Congress faces a September 30 deadline for passing spending bills and avoiding a partial government shutdown, a pair of Republican senators and representatives are pushing for legislation that would keep lawmakers in Washington, D.C. until a short-term government funding extension, known as a continuing resolution (CR), or spending bills are passed. Senator James Lankford and Representative Jodey Arrington plan to introduce a bill that would trigger an automatic CR every 14 days until a deal is reached, forcing lawmakers and their staff to stay in town until the budget is finished.

Key Takeaways:

• The bill would require Congress to stay in session until a CR or spending bills are passed, effectively forcing lawmakers to work around the clock to avoid a shutdown.
• If passed, the legislation would trigger an automatic CR every 14 days until a deal is reached, giving lawmakers an incentive to work together to pass a budget.
• Senator James Lankford and Representative Jodey Arrington argue that shutting down the government would not fix the debt problem, but rather make it worse.
• The bill would also force lawmakers and their staff to stay in D.C. until the job is done, preventing them from adjourning or recessing for longer than 23 hours.
• Mandatory quorum calls each day would ensure attendance, and no other legislation would be allowed to be considered until a CR or spending bills were passed.
• Senate Majority Leader John Thune hopes a CR would originate in the House, based on negotiations between House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole and Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins.
• The White House's move to cancel $4.9 billion in foreign aid funding has some Republicans worried that it could jeopardize the bipartisan nature of the appropriations process in the Senate.

Statistics:

• The nation's debt is currently over $37 trillion.
• If Congress fails to get a deal in place to keep the government open, a shutdown would affect hardworking Americans, including taxpayers, seniors, and men and women in uniform.
• The Senate has advanced a trio of spending bills, while the House has passed only two appropriations bills.
• The House was gearing up to advance the Energy and Water appropriations bill on Thursday.

Sources:

• "FIRST ON FOX: Republicans to introduce legislation to keep government open until short-term funding deal is reached," by Brooke Singman, published on Fox News Digital on September 5, 2025.
• "Senate bill averts government shutdown, but House GOP denies doing same," by Kristina Skierka, published on The Hill on September 3, 2025.