Senate Deadlock Continues
The government shutdown entered its 38th day on Friday, with no clear path to reopening as Senate leaders remained divided over how to proceed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said the chamber will likely work through the weekend after talks with Democrats broke down Thursday.
Thune said Republicans were ready to move forward with a package of bills, including a measure to fund key agencies and pay federal workers. However, he added that Democratic support appeared to evaporate following a closed-door caucus meeting. “All I know is that the pep rally they had at lunch yesterday evidently changed some minds,” Thune said. “The wheels came off.”
Republicans are now trying to advance a bill from Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) that would pay all federal employees—both those furloughed and those still working—during government shutdowns. Johnson accused Democrats of playing “gamesmanship” after Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) blocked the measure in favor of his own proposal.
Democrats Hold Firm
Democratic leaders, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), said their caucus remains united, calling for broader negotiations that address healthcare and social program funding. “We’ve had exactly zero negotiations over this,” Warren said. “They’ve just drawn a line in the sand.”
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced separate legislation to restore funding for Head Start programs, emphasizing the need to protect 750,000 children affected by the shutdown. “If my Republican colleagues don’t want to talk about saving Americans from higher health care costs, I hope they can at least agree that children shouldn’t pay the price for Washington dysfunction,” Baldwin said.
Trump Weighs In
President Donald Trump reiterated his call for Senate Republicans to end the filibuster rule, arguing it would allow the government to reopen immediately. During a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Trump said, “The way to do it for the Republicans is to terminate the filibuster.”
GOP leaders, including Thune, pushed back, noting there are not enough votes within their caucus to change the 60-vote rule. Trump said the move would ensure Republican victories in future elections by allowing them to pass more legislation without Democratic obstruction.
SNAP Payments and Court Challenge
The Justice Department has asked the First Circuit Court of Appeals to pause a district court order requiring the USDA to fully fund SNAP benefits for November. The administration argued that the decision would force the agency to “find $4 billion in the metaphorical couch cushions.” Officials said contingency funds would cover about 65% of eligible benefits this month, short of the $9 billion needed for full payments.
Flight Cuts and Wider Impact
Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration has begun implementing cuts to airline capacity at 40 major U.S. airports, including those in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, New York City, and Los Angeles. The reductions, meant to manage staffing shortages during the shutdown, have led to widespread delays and cancellations across the country.
Next Steps
The Senate is expected to remain in session through the weekend, with possible votes on Johnson’s worker-pay bill or an amended continuing resolution from the House. Thune said the GOP remains ready to negotiate but added, “We have to get the Democrats back engaged.”
Related Coverage:
- National News – https://idahonews.co/national-news/
- Politics – https://idahonews.co/politics/
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