US Shutdown Risks Rise as Democrats Dig In on Health-Care Fixes

Sept. 18, 2025, 1:00 PM UTC

Out-of-power Democrats have been unable to slow down the president’s agenda or even make headlines in Donald Trump’s Washington.

They could do both by risking an Oct. 1 US government shutdown, a strategy that party leaders have now embraced.

It’s a remarkable turnaround for a risk-averse party that just six months ago capitulated to Trump and congressional Republicans to avert a disruption of government services.

At the time, Democratic leaders feared the newly inaugurated president was too popular to take on. But they’re now under increasing pressure from their restive base to go to the mat to prevent a ...

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