US Senate to 'step in' to avert government shutdown

WASHINGTON

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that the Senate would "step in" to avert a government shutdown after a plan by House Speaker Mike Johnson failed to get approval.

"House Republicans don't seem to have any plan for actually keeping the government open, so the Senate will step in.

"Later today, I’ll file cloture on a legislative vehicle that will enable us to prevent a Trump shutdown in the event that the Speaker does not work with us in a bipartisan, bicameral manner. Both sides are going to spend the next few days trying to figure out the best path remaining for keeping the government open," Schumer said on the Senate floor.

His remarks came one day after the six-month funding stopgap tied to legislation that would require proof of citizenship for voter registration failed in the House of Representatives in a 202-220 vote, with 14 Republicans voting against and three Democrats in favor.

The government is set to shut down Oct. 1 unless Democrats and Republicans agree on a funding bill.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump urged Republican lawmakers before the vote on Wednesday to let the government shut down if Democrats do not agree to stricter voter registration rules.

“If Republicans don’t get the SAVE Act, and every ounce of it, they should not agree to a Continuing Resolution in any way, shape or form,” Trump said on Truth Social, referring to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.

Schumer said House Republican leadership has wasted two weeks listening to Trump's "ridiculous claims" on the campaign trail.

"By filing today, I’m giving the Senate maximum flexibility for preventing a shutdown. Democrats and Americans don’t want a Trump shutdown. I dare say most Republicans, at least in this chamber, don’t want to see a Trump shutdown," he said.