Senators are hoping that the looming government shutdown won’t drag on past mid-week, though there’s concern it might last even longer.
The Senate didn’t proceed with a vote to reopen the government on Wednesday, and will close for the session on Thursday due to Yom Kippur.
While the Senate will reconvene on Friday, few anticipate any significant votes that day to fund the government.
Only two Democrats, along with independent Sen. Angus King from Maine, backed the call for action on Wednesday. Republicans will require five additional Democratic votes to reach the 60 needed.
Democrats are skeptical about reaching that threshold, especially since Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has explicitly stated he is against it. If he were to shift his stance, it could cause notable backlash.
“We’ve only dropped this twice. Clearly, we’re not going to reopen the government now,” remarked Sen. Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut, predicting the GOP will need to introduce a new measure to facilitate reopening.
There seems to be mutual resistance between the White House and Republicans regarding the situation.
They argue that the “clean” bill recently passed by the House, which extends funding until November 21, should be accepted by Democrats. Historically, during budget disputes, it’s often Democrats who support straightforward funding measures.
Interestingly, there didn’t seem to be much concern from either side on Wednesday regarding the potential government closure.
Some Republicans noted the defection of two Democrats and Sen. King, who usually allies with the Democrats, perhaps hoping more would follow. However, the vote count remained unchanged, implying that Democrats are prepared for a lengthy showdown.
If the political landscape shifts next week, it could hinge on whether Trump and the Republicans, or Democrats, are feeling more politically vulnerable.
Senate Democratic aides suggested that the shutdown might last “a long time” depending on Trump’s resolve, indicating he could be willing to maintain the closure for weeks.
Trump previously oversaw the longest government shutdown in U.S. history during 2018 and 2019, which lasted 35 days.
Meanwhile, aides conveyed confidence that the Democrats would maintain their ground.
“They’re not going to sway us,” a source remarked.
The Trump administration hinted at making the potential shutdown particularly tough on Democrats before it officially begins.
During a conference call on Wednesday, Russell Vought, the director of management and budget, indicated to House Republicans that layoffs for federal workers could happen within a day or two.
Vought also mentioned that funding for the food assistance program for women, infants, and children would likely deplete in a week or two.
Vice President Vance continued to exert pressure on Democrats, stating at the White House, “If government shutdowns continue, we’ll have to let some people go. It’s not something we want to do, but we’ll do what’s necessary for essential services.”
The intent behind these warnings seems to be aimed at centrist Democrats who might be uneasy with the shutdown, although thus far they remain unmoved.
A Democratic lawmaker indicated that centrist members—who represent many federal workers—are willing to endure a prolonged shutdown, as even those working for the government are frustrated with Trump.
Moreover, Democrats know that, by law, they must be compensated once the government reopens.
This situation feels markedly different from March when ten Democrats, including Schumer, supported a six-month partisan resolution, worried that a shutdown might grant Trump too much leverage, jeopardizing federal jobs and Democratic priorities.
Back then, Schumer enlisted three other Democrats in support, although now it seems unlikely they would back the House funding bill.
One Democratic senator cautioned that supporting the House measure would come off as a “cave” after several defeats.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed skepticism about passing another compromise bill, reiterating plans to consistently support the House bill instead.
“I think we’ll wait until they decide to vote,” Thune commented.
In a press conference alongside Thune, Speaker Mike Johnson ruled out any changes to the House bills that Democrats are seeking, particularly concerning enhanced health premium subsidies or moves to limit potential spending cuts.
“Here’s the reality: we can’t make this bill more appealing to them. There’s no partisan element in it whatsoever,” Johnson told the press.
A bipartisan group of Senate centrists met on Wednesday, looking for common ground to reopen the government.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen mentioned she could support temporary funding measures, provided Republican leaders commit to addressing rising health insurance costs.
“I think if they make a promise and everyone holds them accountable, they’ll follow through,” she indicated.
Sen. Mike Rounds proposed extending the expired premium grant for a year, a concept that has garnered support from others, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski, aiming to keep the government operational since announced on September 20.
Schumer acknowledged these discussions as “good progress.”
Senators are also contemplating short-term continuous funding solutions that could last a week or ten days as negotiations around health regulations progress.
However, substantial agreement on such proposals seems days away.
Thune remarked that while he welcomed discussions among colleagues, any significant legislative changes to facilitate reopening the government appear unlikely.
“I’ve gathered sentiments and had personal conversations with people on both sides. We’ll see how it unfolds. A Democratic vote is essential at minimum to reopen the government.”
