John Thune Maps How to Avert a Government Shutdown

How John Thune Sees the Shutdown Ending

As the clock ticks closer to a possible government shutdown, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has laid out a clear scenario for how Democrats could help avert the crisis. In recent remarks, Thune emphasized that the House has already passed a short-term funding bill, and the President stands ready to sign it. The ball, he argues, is now squarely in the Senate Democrats’ court. Thune frames the situation as a simple binary choice: Democrats can either join Republicans in passing a “clean” continuing resolution, or risk forcing a shutdown that could have significant economic and political consequences. He points to historical precedent, noting that Democrats have previously supported similar stopgap measures over a dozen times, and questions why this time should be different.

The Stakes and the Path Forward

Thune’s message is clear—this shutdown is avoidable, but only if a handful of Democrats cross the aisle. He argues that the current impasse is driven more by politics than policy, and that the real cost of inaction would fall on the American people. The Majority Leader’s comments suggest he believes Democratic leaders face mounting pressure to compromise, especially as the consequences of a shutdown become more tangible. While Thune stops short of predicting capitulation, he hints that the path to keeping the government open is straightforward—if enough Democrats are willing to act. The coming hours will reveal whether his assessment proves accurate, or if Washington is headed for another round of brinkmanship.