The US government shutdown appeared set to drag into a third week after senators again rejected a Republican-backed funding bill on Thursday, despite President Donald Trump’s mounting pressure on Democrats.
Federal agencies have been without funding since October 1, leaving public services paralyzed as negotiations between both parties repeatedly collapse. Despite several failed votes to restore operations, no breakthrough appears imminent.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune signaled that a weekend session was unlikely, saying he was unsure “if that does any good,” according to Semafor. The Senate is expected to reconvene Friday, though another vote on the House-passed bill is predicted to fail.
During a cabinet meeting, Trump blamed Democrats for the shutdown, warning that their refusal to cooperate was hurting “hardworking Americans, including our military, our air traffic controllers, and impoverished mothers.” The president also threatened to cut “popular Democrat programs” in a bid to intensify pressure.
The Republican proposal would temporarily reopen the government through late November to allow further negotiations. However, Democrats are holding firm, demanding an extension of healthcare subsidies set to expire on December 31. CNN reported that Democratic leaders are bracing for a prolonged shutdown if Republicans refuse to compromise.
The standoff has already left around 750,000 federal employees furloughed without pay, and concerns are mounting that military personnel could soon miss paychecks. Although a bipartisan House bill guaranteeing pay for 1.3 million active-duty service members has about 150 co-sponsors, Republican leaders have refused to bring it to a vote, insisting that Democrats could resolve the issue by approving the funding bill.
“The President has made it clear: we must pay our troops,” said Republican congresswoman Jen Kiggans, who sponsored the bill.
Democrats, buoyed by polls suggesting the public blames Republicans for the crisis, see growing political leverage as the shutdown continues. “Every day gets better for us,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, noting that Democrats had long anticipated the standoff and were prepared for the healthcare dispute.
Meanwhile, Trump’s “maximum pain” strategy has drawn criticism for threatening federal workers and targeting social programs. “They wanted to do this, so we’ll give them a little taste of their own medicine,” the president remarked, underscoring his determination to force Democrats to yield.
What you should know
This marks one of the longest US government shutdowns in recent years, driven by a political standoff between President Trump and Democratic lawmakers over healthcare funding and budget priorities.
With no compromise in sight, the shutdown’s impact on federal workers and the economy continues to deepen.
