Flop

Shutdown season is upon us.

Friday, the House passed a GOP-endorsed stopgap bill that keeps funding at current levels through November 21 while adding $88M in security upgrades for government officials following the Charlie Kirk assassination. The Senate voted it down 44-48, well short of the 60 needed votes.

Democrats countered with their own bill, which would extend funding until October 31, boost security for government officials by $326M, restore Affordable Care Act subsidies, and roll back recent GOP-backed Medicaid changes. That proposal also flopped in the Senate.

Congress is now in recess until September 29—just before the current funding expires on September 30. Without a compromise, federal agencies will begin shuttering, paychecks will pause for many workers, and public services will face disruptions. The shutdown-avoiding clock is officially ticking.

P.S. Check out this bonus podcast episode of our writers explaining government shutdowns to our podcast producer. Enjoy! (Apple Podcasts) (Spotify)

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
If our hope is based on political negotiations or economic security, then we live in fear because we could lose everything. But if our hope is rooted in the eternal security provided by Christ, then we can weather any storm—even a government shutdown.

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’s blood and righteousness… On Christ the solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”
Edward Mote, 1863 (Scriptural basis: Ps 18:2; Matt 7:24; Heb 13:8)