Lessons Learned from the Averted Shutdown

On Friday, Congress narrowly approved funding to keep the government open through the remainder of the fiscal year. It was a lesson in where both parties stand and how they will prioritize must-pass legislation. Both parties revealed the following strategies and weaknesses that will continue to come up in upcoming legislative battles:

Republican Lessons:

Unity matters, but so does flexibility. The Republican caucus has struggled in the past to bridge divides between the moderates and more conservative members. The eventual compromise demonstrated that unity does not necessarily mean uniformity. Both factions moved forward with concessions — something that has not always happened in the past.

Clear leadership matters. Speaker Johnson secured nearly every member of his caucus, with the help of President Trump. The two Republican leaders and their teams articulated a specific, actionable path forward, which gave little room for wavering.

Democratic Lessons:

Leveraging unity for negotiating strength.  While House Democrats (excluding one) were unified in their opposition, Senate Democrats’ last-minute opposition made it difficult to negotiate in good faith. However, Democratic alignment on core principles, particularly around social spending, will likely be a rallying cry in future negotiations.

Finding the right ask will be vital. Language to deter the Trump administration from spending congressionally mandated dollars at will was a nonstarter from the beginning. Early asks that could find bipartisan support and put Republicans in an uncomfortable situation if they oppose will be crucial going into the next legislative battle.

Republicans walked away from this shutdown threat unified. However, they have tougher intra-party battles ahead with the debt ceiling and reconciliation. Democrats will need to figure out a path forward that aligns both chambers and the different factions of the party.