Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has announced his intention to advance a bipartisan government funding bill later today after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) failed to pass a partisan six-month funding measure tied to voter registration reform. This move by Schumer suggests a potential shift in the usual order of government funding bill origination, as the Senate may need to take the lead to avoid a government shutdown.

Schumer addressed the Senate floor, stating, "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."

With the funding for numerous federal departments and agencies set to expire on September 30, Johnson and other House GOP leaders have yet to unveil an alternative bill that could garner enough votes to pass in the lower chamber. The six-month funding stopgap proposal, which was tied to legislation requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, failed with a vote of 202 to 220, with 14 Republicans voting against it.

Democrats argue that the voter registration provision is a "poison pill" and unlikely to pass Congress. Lawmakers from both parties also express reluctance to delay the fiscal 2025 spending bills until March. Former President Trump urged Republican lawmakers to let the government shut down if Democrats do not agree to stricter voter registration rules.

Schumer, Johnson, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) still have time to negotiate a three-month funding resolution in the coming days, though the clock is ticking. Some GOP senators would prefer Johnson to bring a clean three-month continuing resolution to the floor, preserving the House's traditional role in acting first on funding bills. However, they are prepared to cooperate with Senate Democrats and push a bill through the Senate first if Johnson struggles to muster enough votes in the House.

"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," Schumer emphasized.

As the negotiations continue, the fate of the government funding bill and the potential for a government shutdown hang in the balance. Both sides understand the urgency of finding a solution before the September 30 deadline, but the differing priorities and the need for bipartisan cooperation make the path forward uncertain.