Schumer says ‘the Senate will step in’ to avert shutdown after Johnson’s plan fails

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has declared that the Senate will step in to prevent a government shutdown after the House of Representatives rejected House Speaker Mike Johnson's plan for temporary government funding. This rejection occurred on Wednesday night and came as a surprise, given the plan's pairing with a GOP-backed bill aimed at limiting noncitizen voting, which sparked significant controversy. Johnson had initially pulled the vote last week due to mounting opposition but faced pressure from former President Donald Trump to take action. Schumer emphasized the urgency of the situation, as Congress has less than two weeks to reach an agreement to keep the government operational. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell warned that a shutdown would be "beyond stupid" with the November elections approaching, indicating the high stakes involved.

The rejection of Johnson's plan saw more than a dozen Republicans joining nearly all Democrats in opposition, illustrating a fracture within the GOP. As the Senate prepares to step in, the focus will be on finding a solution that satisfies both chambers of Congress. The political landscape remains tense as lawmakers navigate the complexities of funding negotiations.