Rep. Tom Cole, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said the U.S. House has passed a “clean, continuing resolution” to keep the federal government operating, but he said the measure’s fate now rests with the Senate, where he said supporters number about 55 — short of the 60 votes needed under Senate rules.

Cole said the House action was intended to “continue to negotiate” on appropriations and that negotiating over other issues — including Medicaid changes and COVID-era health‑care tax subsidies — should not be a precondition for keeping government services funded. “We originally had 1 Democratic vote in the Senate, then we got 2 more, so 3,” Cole said, adding later, “It's never worked out. It's never gotten them to where they wanna go.”

Why it matters: A continuing resolution (CR) keeps federal funding at current levels while Congress finishes regular appropriations. Cole warned a prolonged shutdown would harm federal workers and services. “Even those people that are deemed essential aren't getting paid,” he said, citing troops and air-traffic controllers among those working without guaranteed pay. The House passage does not complete the funding process because, under Senate rules, most significant appropriations measures require 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.

Cole criticized Senate Democratic leadership for what he characterized as strategic political calculation. He said Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer faces pressure from the left of his caucus and suggested that shutting down the government is a political choice. “I don't think you ought to hold the American people hostage, the entire country hostage for your own political benefit, and I think that's what's happening right now,” Cole said.

On policy specifics raised in the interview, Cole said Congress already had voted on the Medicaid reforms referenced by some senators and that the president had signed those measures. He also said the CR under discussion would expire before certain COVID-era health‑care tax subsidies expired, and he described those timing decisions as having been set previously by Democrats.

The interview touched on public reaction to a shutdown. Cole disputed the long‑term reliability of polling on blame for a shutdown, saying, “I used to be a pollster. I can tell you they change pretty fast.” He predicted public opinion would shift as the consequences of a shutdown became more visible.

Cole was asked about warnings from administration officials, including Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, that layoffs or reductions in force could begin if a shutdown continued. He responded that the best way to avoid layoffs is to reopen the government and reiterated that the House had advanced a clean CR and was waiting on the Senate.

Votes at a glance: The House passed a clean continuing resolution (motion text: “clean continuing resolution”); mover/second not specified in the interview; formal House vote tally not specified; outcome: approved by the House (as reported by Rep. Tom Cole). The measure’s enactment remains contingent on Senate action.

What happens next: Cole said the House has done its part and that Senate consideration will determine whether services remain funded without interruption. “We have to wait on the Senate to see what they're gonna do,” he said.