Chicago February 28, 2025
With only two weeks left before federal funding runs out, lawmakers are scrambling to avoid a government shutdown. The current funding is set to expire on March 14, and there’s no clear plan in sight to prevent a shutdown ¹.
Lawmakers acknowledge that passing full appropriations bills is unlikely due to the time constraint. Instead, they’re preparing a funding extension, known as a continuing resolution (CR), to buy more time. Republican leaders are proposing a long-term extension that would fund the government at current levels until the end of September. However, appropriations leaders from both parties are seeking a short-term extension to finish the funding bills ¹.
President Donald Trump has endorsed the long-term extension, but Democrats, who are in the minority, have limited options to push back against the new administration. They view the administration’s unilateral moves, such as shutting down agencies and firing federal workers, as a violation of the constitutional separation of powers.
