Schumer moving forward with temporary funding bill to avoid shutdown as spending talks continue

Washington — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Thursday he plans to move forward with a short-term measure to keep the government funded as lawmakers work to pass full-year spending bills ahead of a deadline to avert a government shutdown. 

"A shutdown is looming over us, starting on Jan. 19, about a week away," Schumer said on the Senate floor, referring to the first of two deadlines to extend government funding. "Unfortunately, it has become crystal clear that it will take more than a week to finish the appropriations process."

The New York Democrat acknowledged that both parties generally want to work together to pass appropriations bills based on top-line funding levels outlined in an agreement reached by congressional leaders over the weekend. But with much remaining to be done — and limited time to accomplish it — Schumer announced that he is taking the first procedural step to tee up a temporary funding bill, known as a continuing resolution, to avert a shutdown at the end of next week. Some federal departments are funded through Jan. 19, while funding for others will expire on Feb. 2.