The House may have passed its budget resolution yesterday, but the real debate is just beginning. Congress now faces a March 14 deadline to fund the government and avoid a shutdown, and negotiations are growing more urgent by the day. 

Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned this week that Congress is “running out of time,” and lawmakers are considering another short-term spending bill to keep the government running while negotiations continue. But with hardline conservatives refusing to support any deal without deep spending cuts, House Republicans may once again need Democratic votes to prevent a shutdown. 

Across the Capitol, Senate GOP leaders, including Thune and Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, are signaling that time is running out and that a continuing resolution (CR) – a short-term extension of current funding – may be necessary to avoid a shutdown. 

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats are resisting deep cuts but are open to negotiations. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has called some GOP proposals “illegal” and is urging Democrats to hold firm against what they see as extreme spending reductions. However, Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have indicated they are open to negotiations, emphasizing that they are not pushing for a shutdown. 

Finally, down the street at the White House, President Trump has been largely silent on the March 14 deadline, but his push for sweeping spending cuts has emboldened House conservatives. Meanwhile, Elon Musk has publicly cheered on the idea of a shutdown, adding another layer of uncertainty as Democrats demand assurances that any funding deal will be followed by the administration. 

If Congress does not act by March 14, non-essential government employees will be furloughed, national parks and federal offices could close, and while Social Security and Medicare will not be affected, other government services will.  

With time running out, No Labels is hosting a special call this Friday, February 28 to break down what is happening and what it means for the country. 

We will be joined by two special guests – former House Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Kurt Schrader and Tom Kahn, the longest-serving staff director of the House Budget Committee, to break down the latest developments.