Schumer and Sanders Unite Against Shutdown Deal
Parents in Grand Forks who rely on WIC and base employees commuting to Grand Forks Air Force Base are watching Washington with unease as another stopgap deal takes shape. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Bernie Sanders said they oppose a proposed agreement to end the shutdown, arguing it undercuts health care protections and funding, according to recent floor remarks and office statements from the senators’ public channels (Schumer office, Sanders office). Their resistance complicates the path to reopen the government and sets health policy as the central bargaining chip.
The emphasis on health care is not new for Democratic leaders, but it is now the red line. Both senators have signaled they will not back a bill that pares back community health center support, Affordable Care Act subsidies, or Medicaid protections—areas that are often targets in short-term budget trade-offs, according to a synthesis of recent negotiations compiled by policy trackers at KFF. With the Senate’s narrow margins and a House conference that has struggled to coalesce, any defections inside the Democratic caucus could decide whether federal agencies restart or stay partially closed.
For North Dakotans, the debate isn’t abstract. A prolonged shutdown can slow federal reimbursements, pause some research, and disrupt benefits that flow through local clinics and schools, according to agency contingency plans posted by the White House Office of Management and Budget.
The Shutdown Standoff
The current standoff follows weeks of stopgap funding debates and lapsed appropriations across multiple agencies. When Congress misses its spending deadlines, departments execute contingency plans that furlough non‑essential staff and preserve essential operations, a process outlined by the Congressional Research Service. Negotiators have cycled through proposals that trade domestic spending trims for reopening the government, but health riders have become the sticking point.
Earlier compromises moved money to keep core services running while punting larger fights into later bills. This latest package became contentious after reports that it could trim funding streams tied to community health centers and delay payments for certain programs, drawing pushback from Democrats who see those items as off‑limits, based on public summaries from health policy analysts at KFF. Republicans and some centrists argue that reopening quickly—then debating priorities in full‑year bills—is the more responsible path for the economy.
In practical terms, shutdowns do not halt all health services. Medicare and Medicaid continue because they are mandatory programs, but some operations at HHS, CDC, NIH, and FDA slow or pause under the department’s contingency plan (HHS). For families, the most immediate pressure often falls on nutrition supports that depend on discretionary dollars and timely federal transfers.
Local Impact: Grand Forks and UND
WIC and SNAP: Nutrition benefits can face disruptions if a shutdown stretches and states exhaust carryover funds, according to USDA guidance (USDA FNS). Grand Forks families should monitor updates from Grand Forks Public Health’s WIC program and contact their clinic if cards are declined or appointments shift (Grand Forks Public Health – WIC).
Grand Forks Air Force Base: Mission‑essential operations continue, but some civilian employees may face furloughs and base services can be curtailed during a lapse. Residents can watch official base channels for status updates (GFAFB Public Affairs).
UND research and student services: NIH- and CDC‑funded projects can be delayed, and new grant actions may pause under agency plans. UND investigators and students should follow university guidance and agency notices for award timelines (UND News).
Travel and mail: TSA and air traffic control operate but may see strained staffing if pay is delayed; passengers at Grand Forks International Airport should build in extra time (TSA). USPS continues normal operations.
Health Care at the Forefront
Schumer and Sanders have centered their critique on the bill’s health provisions, warning that short‑term fixes that drain or delay support for safety‑net programs often translate into real service cuts on the ground. Policy analysts note that community health centers serve more than 30 million patients nationwide, many in rural and low‑income communities, and rely on stable federal funding to keep clinics open and staffed, according to KFF’s review of shutdown impacts (KFF). Any reduction or deferred payments can force hiring freezes and longer wait times.
Nutrition assistance is another flashpoint. USDA has historically kept SNAP benefits flowing in the near term, but WIC is more vulnerable because it depends on discretionary appropriations and state carryover, per USDA program guidance (USDA FNS). For university students with children and young military families in Grand Forks County, even a brief disruption can mean missed appointments or limited formula options.
Health research and preparedness also sit in the balance. NIH has previously paused new grant awards during shutdowns, and CDC’s community‑level support can scale back to essential functions, according to HHS’s contingency plan (HHS). Those slowdowns ripple to campuses like UND, where labs depend on timely grant actions and federal partners.
Diverse Reactions in the Senate
Reaction inside the Senate reflects those trade‑offs. Democrats aligned with Schumer and Sanders argue that reopening the government cannot come at the expense of health care pillars built over the past decade; they see health riders as precedent‑setting cuts that will be hard to reverse, according to floor debate summaries from Capitol Hill reporters (see ongoing coverage from C‑SPAN).
Republican leaders counter that voters expect government to function and that further delay risks compounding economic costs, including missed pay for federal workers and contractors. They argue health care policy belongs in full‑year appropriations or authorizing bills, not in a short‑term reopening measure, a position echoed in recent GOP leadership statements covered by national outlets (C‑SPAN).
A group of centrists in both parties has floated a clean extension to reopen agencies while both sides negotiate offsets elsewhere. Whether that path attracts enough votes depends on how the health provisions are rewritten—or dropped entirely.
What Lies Ahead in the Shutdown Debate
Procedurally, any Senate deal must clear a 60‑vote threshold, then align with whatever the House can pass. If health provisions remain contested, leaders could move a narrow “clean” bill to buy time, or pair a short extension with guarantees on upcoming health votes—a tactic used in past stalemates, as outlined by the Congressional Research Service.
For Grand Forks, the near‑term task is staying current. The City of Grand Forks will share local service updates as needed (City of Grand Forks), while UND and Grand Forks Public Schools will alert families and staff if federal program flows change (UND News, GF Public Schools). Businesses can consult the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Chamber for guidance on federal contracting and workforce impacts (Chamber).
What to Watch
Senate floor action could pivot within hours if leaders strip or rework the health care language; watch for cloture filings and whip counts on any revised text this week.
Locally, monitor Grand Forks Public Health for WIC notices and Grand Forks AFB Public Affairs for base service updates if the lapse extends.
If a clean extension advances, expect a second round of negotiations on health funding in the following days, with new draft text and agency guidance to follow.
