Trump calls on Republicans to back stopgap bill as Dem leaders weigh shutdown fight

WASHINGTON — President Trump urged Republicans Monday to get behind a short-term spending bill that would avert a partial government shutdown later this month.

GOP leadership has quietly been working on a stopgap measure that would keep the government’s lights on through Nov. 21, The Post has been told.

The text of that measure, which would kick in at 12 a.m. Oct. 1, has not yet been made public.

“Congressional Republicans, including [Senate Majority] Leader John Thune and [House] Speaker Mike Johnson, are working on a short term ‘CLEAN’ extension of Government Funding to stop Cryin’ Chuck Schumer from shutting down the Government,” Trump said on Truth Social.

“In times like these, Republicans have to stick TOGETHER to fight back against the Radical Left Democrat demands, and vote ‘YES!’ on both Votes needed to pass a Clean CR this week.”

Democratic leadership in the House and Senate have publicly insisted they will force a shutdown at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) saying on X Monday: “Partisan legislation that continues the unprecedented Republican assault on healthcare is not a clean spending bill. It’s a dirty one.”

Republicans will require support from Senate Democrats to avoid a shutdown, since continuing resolutions — or CRs — require 60 votes to clear the upper chamber’s legislative filibuster. The GOP has just 53 Senate seats with all members present.

Last week, Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that they want vague concessions on health care funding in order to back down.

Back in March, Schumer took heat from progressives after he declined to block a GOP-backed CR that covered the remainder of fiscal year 2025.

“I did what I thought was right,” Schumer said last week. “It’s a different situation now than then.”

Meanwhile, Republicans must keep all their members onside, despite a handful of House lawmakers publicly disdaining continuing resolutions.

Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) warned Sunday she won’t back a CR that “ends funding right before a major holiday,” in this case, Thanksgiving.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has long been a critic of CRs and voted against the one in March, declared that he would oppose the measure without spending cuts.

Republicans can only afford two defections in the House if there is full attendance.

GOP leadership hope to get the continuing resolution on Trump’s desk by the end of this week and avoid last-minute drama.