Senate Democrats said Wednesday they will oppose the House-passed continuing resolution that would keep the government open past a Friday shutdown deadline. They prefer a 30-day continuing resolution instead of the Republican plan to keep fiscal year 2024 spending levels through September, NBC News reported.
“Funding the government should be a bipartisan effort, but Republicans chose a partisan path, drafting their continuing resolution without any input — any input — from congressional Democrats,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on the Senate floor. “Our caucus is unified on a clean April 11 CR that will keep the government open and give Congress time to negotiate bipartisan legislation that can pass.”
Senate Republicans will need at least seven Democratic votes to pass their bill, leading to uncertainty just hours before a potential government shutdown.
Congress has not passed a defense spending bill or legislation that would ensure service members continue getting paid in the case of a shutdown.
Vice Chiefs: Stopgap Bill Affects Readiness
The military service vice chiefs told a Senate subcommittee Wednesday that even with a small defense budget increase, the military may see a decrease in readiness under a stopgap spending bill tied to a budget developed years ago.
“Ultimately, the Army can afford a large, ready or modern force, but with the current budget, it cannot afford all three,” Gen. James Mingus, vice chief of staff of the Army, told lawmakers, as AP reported. “Either we provide soldiers the capabilities needed to win or accept greater risks in other areas.”
Army photo of Gen. Mingus by Staff Sgt. Brenden Delgado
