Democrats blink as Schumer helps GOP clear key shutdown hurdle
Chuck Schumer endorsed the continuing resolution as the 'responsible path forward' for American families
By Alex Miller Fox News
Published August 3, 2026 6:44pm EDT | Updated August 3, 2026 6:47pm EDT
Senate Republicans opted to strike on bipartisan momentum and take a key step to prevent a government shutdown almost two months before the deadline.
The upper chamber voted in a bipartisan wave to clear the first procedural hurdle for a short-term funding extension that would see the government open through the midterm elections and into early December.
It comes after Republicans have spent months hand wringing that Democrats would again shut the government down to score political points during the pivotal November elections.
The actual deadline to fund the government is not until Sept. 30, when the current fiscal year expires, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., argued that it’s better to move now then to wait to create more "certainty" in the coming weeks.
"There's been enough uncertainty this last year, and, you know, unfortunately, I think through two government shutdowns that extended for a long period of time, it's better for everybody if there's predictability, certainty," Thune said.
Congress has been no stranger to shutdowns during President Donald Trump’s second term, with two of the longest in history taking place under Republican control of the legislative branch.
more
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrats-blink-schumer-helps-gop-clear-shutdown-hurdle
