As the federal government remains shuttered, a bitter partisan standoff in the Senate has dashed hopes for a swift resolution, pushing the shutdown into the weekend, Fox News reported.
The ongoing government shutdown, now in its third day, stems from Senate Democrats blocking a Republican-led effort to reopen federal operations, with disagreements over healthcare funding at the core of the impasse.
The shutdown began earlier this week, leaving federal workers furloughed and services halted after lawmakers failed to agree on a funding plan.
On Friday, the Senate saw its fourth attempt to pass a bill to reopen the government fail, with a vote of 54-44, largely split along party lines.
Despite the divide, three members of the Democratic caucus—Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, and Angus King of Maine, an independent, crossed over to support the Republican proposal alongside most GOP senators.
Little progress was made after lawmakers took a break for Yom Kippur, intensifying frustration as the deadlock persists.
At the heart of the conflict is the Democrats’ demand to negotiate the extension of expiring Obamacare tax credits, which are set to lapse by year’s end and could lead to higher healthcare premiums if not addressed.
Republicans, however, insist they will only discuss this issue after the government is reopened, with some expressing interest in reforms rather than a permanent extension as Democrats propose.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, voiced exasperation, stating, "They have taken hostage the federal government and, by extension, the American people, who are the only losers in this."
Thune added, "Everybody's talking about who wins and who loses and who gets the blame. That's not what this is about. This is about doing what's in the best interest of the American people."
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, emphasized the urgency of action, saying, "We know Americans want this, and we know many of my Republican colleagues want this as well. But failure to act would be devastating. And Republicans know it."
The White House has ramped up pressure on Democrats by targeting funding in areas led by their party, including halting $2.8 billion for Chicago infrastructure projects on Friday, citing opposition to certain contracting practices.
Earlier in the week, the administration also withheld $18 billion for New York City infrastructure and $8 billion in environmental funding from 16 Democratic-led states, moves that have drawn sharp criticism.
Thune pointed to these actions, noting, "They are allowing the administration to do the very thing that, back in March, they said they didn't want to give them the authority to do."
Behind the scenes, bipartisan discussions are underway, with ideas like a temporary extension of healthcare credits for a year or a short-term funding measure tied to the Nov. 1 open enrollment period being floated, though no agreement has been reached.
