President Donald Trump has voiced concerns about the prospect of another federal government shutdown, pointing to the challenges posed by Democratic opposition in the legislative process. Speaking during an interview on Fox Business' program "Mornings with Maria," hosted by Maria Bartiromo, Trump expressed his apprehension regarding the possibility of a shutdown occurring before the current funding deadline at the end of January.
Elaborating on the situation, the President emphasized the significant financial repercussions of the previous shutdown and his belief that Democrats may trigger another impasse. "I think we have a problem, because I think we're going to probably end up in another Democrat shutdown," he remarked, underscoring the costly nature of the recent funding lapse.
On the legislative front, the U.S. House of Representatives took decisive action on Thursday by passing the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security. This approval came despite opposition from Democrats, who have expressed concerns regarding former President Trump's deployment of masked federal agents in urban centers as part of his immigration enforcement strategy.
In addition to the Department of Homeland Security funding, lawmakers overwhelmingly supported a comprehensive package of appropriations bills covering key sectors such as defense, health care, transportation, education, and housing. The measure received bipartisan backing, passing with a vote tally of 341 in favor and 88 against. This legislative momentum follows last week's approval of a two-bill "minibus" package that funded the State and Treasury Departments.
With the passage of all twelve fiscal 2026 appropriations bills in the House, the onus now shifts to the Senate, which must approve the package before the January 30 deadline to circumvent another government shutdown. Senate action is anticipated once legislators return from their recess next week.
Trump's warnings come in the wake of the longest government shutdown in American history, which lasted 43 days in 2025. That shutdown interrupted essential government operations and led to furloughs for hundreds of thousands of federal employees, intensifying partisan tensions over the event's attribution.
While concerns regarding another shutdown persist, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has offered a cautiously optimistic economic forecast, projecting a 6% growth rate for the U.S. gross domestic product in 2026. Lutnick attributes this anticipated expansion in part to policies implemented under Trump's administration, including investments in new manufacturing and automobile production facilities.
However, Lutnick also issued a caveat, suggesting that the prior shutdown could complicate economic conditions during the fourth quarter, potentially affecting the realization of this forecasted growth.
Amid these developments, President Trump has engaged in discussions with prominent Democratic figures. Recent interactions include a "productive" telephone conversation with Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, as well as a White House meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. These dialogues have focused on addressing various divisive issues amid ongoing legislative negotiations.