U.S. Senate Reopens Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown
The U.S. Senate reconvened on Monday afternoon, with lawmakers preparing for a potential vote on a funding bill as the federal government shutdown approached a record 35 days, previously set during President Donald Trump's first term in 2019. The shutdown has already lasted more than a month, with the government closing on October 1.
There have been 13 unsuccessful procedural votes on a House-passed continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government through November 21. Despite these efforts, no agreement has been reached, and the Senate has yet to take a formal vote on the measure. A vote is scheduled for Tuesday, but it remains uncertain whether the legislation will pass.
The Senate convened at 3 p.m., following its last session on Thursday. However, no immediate vote was taken on the funding bill. The House has not met since September 19, leaving the legislative process stalled.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed cautious optimism about reaching a deal to reopen the government this week. He acknowledged that while he is "optimistic," he is not entirely "confident" that both parties will find common ground. Thune noted that the current situation is unlike previous shutdowns, particularly due to the Democrats’ response to the crisis.
Thune emphasized the urgency of reaching an agreement before the Senate goes into recess next week for Veterans Day. He mentioned that there have been discussions over the weekend and hopes that these conversations will lead to progress. However, he warned that if no significant movement occurs by midweek, it may be difficult to finalize any deal by the end of the week.
Thune also indicated openness to extending the CR until January, though the issue of how to proceed remains unresolved. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that Republican leaders are considering ways to address the expiration date of the CR that passed the House on September 19. While the House only requires a majority to pass legislation, the Senate has struggled to secure the 60 votes needed to advance the measure.
President Trump has urged Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster, which would allow them to pass the stopgap funding bill with a simple majority. This move, often referred to as the "nuclear option," would bypass the need for a supermajority. However, Thune has opposed this approach, fearing that it could set a dangerous precedent if Democrats regain control of the Senate in the future.
Thune also stated that there is insufficient support among his colleagues to scrap the filibuster entirely. “The votes aren’t there,” he told reporters.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has taken a firm stance, opposing negotiations with Democrats on healthcare until the government reopens. Democrats, on the other hand, are insisting that any funding bill must include an extension of subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.
A White House official reiterated the administration’s position: “The clean CR needs to be passed, and then there's room for talks after that.” The White House has also labeled the shutdown as a “Democratic shutdown” on its website and social media platforms.
In a separate development, a bipartisan group of four House lawmakers released a statement outlining principles for extending Obamacare subsidies for two years and establishing an income cap for eligibility. The statement was authored by Republican Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska and Jeff Hurd of Colorado, along with Democratic Reps. Tom Suozzi of New York and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the lack of action from lawmakers, calling it a “taxpayer-funded vacation.” He pointed to President Trump’s absence from Washington, noting that the former president was hosting a $1 million-per-play campaign fundraising dinner at his home in Florida.
As the shutdown continues, essential personnel remain on duty without pay. This includes air traffic controllers, leading to flight delays across the country. Approximately 670,000 federal employees have been furloughed, while another 730,000 are working without compensation. In past shutdowns, affected workers received back pay, but this time, the situation remains uncertain.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted the risks associated with reduced staffing, particularly in critical areas like air traffic control. “We will delay, we will cancel, any kind of flight across the national airspace to make sure people are safe,” he said on ABC News' This Week.
FlightAware reported 5,890 total delays involving U.S. airports on Sunday, with many of the issues linked to staffing shortages. Air traffic control facilities have had to adjust operations to maintain safety, leading to increased spacing between flights. From Friday morning to Sunday night, 98 Federal Aviation Administration facilities reported staffing triggers, further complicating travel plans.
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