Congressional Recess Offers No Solution to Looming Shutdown Threat

Lawmakers have left for their August recess without completing work on funding the government, raising concerns about a potential government shutdown this fall. The Republican-led House and Democratic-led Senate are taking different approaches to spending, with the Senate adhering to the spending levels negotiated by President Biden and the House Republicans proposing bills with lower spending and policy add-ons. The slim Republican majority in the House gives a small group significant power, and the differing approaches between the chambers are setting the stage for a potential showdown. Congress has until October 1 to pass spending bills or a stopgap measure to avoid a shutdown.