Ossoff’s Bold Stand Risks Government Shutdown

Clear Facts

• Senator Jon Ossoff plans to vote against the GOP spending bill, opposing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
• Ossoff’s decision aligns him with left-wing Democrats who are willing to risk a government shutdown.
• The Senate is expected to vote on the GOP spending bill on Friday, with a partial government shutdown looming if the bill does not pass.

In a surprising move, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff from Georgia has declared his intention to vote against the Republican-proposed spending bill. This decision puts him at odds with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and aligns him with the more progressive members of his party who are prepared to let the government shut down.

Ossoff, who faces a tough reelection battle in 2026, is seen as a key target for Republicans aiming to increase their Senate majority. He cited concerns over cuts to nondefense spending and the refusal of Senate Republicans to limit President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency as reasons for his opposition.

The government faces a potential partial shutdown if at least eight Senate Democrats do not join Republicans to advance the six-month stopgap spending bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR).

“I will oppose the House budget proposal,” Ossoff stated. He emphasized that “the best available solution is a 30-day stopgap funding measure to avoid a shutdown, during which time Congress can do its job to properly pass a bipartisan budget.”

This stance has drawn criticism from the GOP, with Republican South Carolina Senator Tim Scott accusing Ossoff of siding with the “most radical members” of his party. Scott remarked, “By auditioning to be the newest member of AOC’s Squad and voting to shutdown the government, he is willing to put our troops, veterans, and border security at risk.”

In the past, Ossoff has praised bipartisan efforts to prevent government shutdowns, highlighting the importance of cooperation across party lines. However, his current position seems to diverge from this sentiment.

Other Democratic Senators, including Elissa Slotkin, Tammy Baldwin, and Ruben Gallego, have also committed to voting “no” on the cloture vote for the funding bill. These senators managed to win their seats in 2024 despite electoral challenges in their respective states.

The Senate is set to vote on the GOP spending bill this Friday. The outcome will determine whether the government will face a partial shutdown.

Ossoff has previously joined Democrats in blocking the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which sought to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. This decision, along with his current stance on the spending bill, may have political repercussions for him in Georgia.

A recent poll indicates that Ossoff trails a generic Republican by 12 points in a hypothetical matchup, following his vote on the sports bill. The poll suggests that voters are concerned about his positions on key issues.

Ossoff also voted against a Senate budget resolution that would have provided up to $175 billion for the president’s border security agenda, including funding for deportation efforts.

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