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Democrats are preparing for a budget showdown with President Donald Trump and his allies. Politico reports Congress prefers to avoid a spending confrontation with the president in the early months of their new roles, but the conversation is a priority.
Two sources spoke with the media outlet on the condition of anonymity regarding the private strategy the Democrats are discussing. The strategy is to push the next funding deadline into March or April, buying lawmakers additional time to negotiate a short-term spending measure before the current Dec. 11 deadline arrives.
A standoff is still possible for December due to Iran war funding. Although Republicans still control Congress, Democratic leaders are facing mounting pressure to leverage their influence over federal spending to force an end to the conflict. That strategy, however, could come with significant political consequences, including a possible government shutdown.
The most recent full federal government shutdown lasted from October 1 to November 12, 2025, setting a record at 43 days. There were also several partial shutdowns in 2026, including a 76-day shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The shutdown was the result of a prolonged budget standoff between Republicans and Democrats in Congress over disagreements over healthcare funding and spending priorities:
Lawmakers in both chambers are already advocating for provisions in the temporary funding package that would prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to support the war. While congressional leaders have expressed a desire to bring the conflict to an end, they have yet to outline specific conditions or demands they intend to pursue before the Dec. 11 funding deadline.
As the country continues to stress over the state of the economy, Democrats’ top priority is said to be focused on executing an affordability policy agenda and avoiding a war with Trump over the spending ordeal. Republicans have already released a new fiscal 2027 funding bill. Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top House Democratic appropriator, would evaluate how to deal with war funding. “She’s working through all of our Democratic priorities to see what’s possible in advance of Dec. 11,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, per Politico.
“We are exploring every option to figure out how to end the war in Iran,” Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democratic appropriator in the Senate, said in an interview. “I don’t trust [Trump] at all. So we are looking [at] what language we can put in here that will actually make sure that we are writing bills that the American people voted for.”