Democrats Face Blame in Looming US Government Shutdown Over Funding Dispute

Amid a looming government shutdown on October 1, Democrats are blocking a Republican-backed short-term funding measure that lacks extensions for expiring Obamacare subsidies, betting that responsibility for the shutdown will fall on President Donald Trump and Republicans despite their control of Congress. The White House, led by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, insists that Republicans and the administration are advocating for a "simple, clean budget extension" and preemptively blames Democrats for any government shutdown, emphasizing the harm it would cause to vulnerable populations including seniors, veterans, and military families. Democrats demand negotiations to include their priorities, particularly the extension of COVID-era health care provisions, which Republicans have opposed. This standoff replicates previous shutdown dynamics, where extraneous policy demands often lead to political fallout, though Democrats are now using filibuster leverage in the Senate to block the funding bill. Both parties have accused each other of jeopardizing critical government functions, with Republicans framing Democrats as responsible for risking military pay and disaster relief, while Democrats highlight that Republicans control the legislative agenda. The political blame game intensifies as each side prepares for potential fallout from a shutdown that would halt federal operations and disrupt benefit payments.