The US Senate remained deadlocked on legislation to end the government shutdown on Thursday, as Donald Trump reiterated his threat to make Democrats pay for the funding lapse that has closed federal agencies and furloughed workers nationwide.
Government funding lapsed last Wednesday, and Republicans are insisting Senate Democrats approve a bill to continue operations through 21 November, which has already cleared the House of Representatives.
Federal workers are expected to miss a paycheck next week if funding is not restarted in the coming days.
“It’s so stunning to me how callous he can be to play political games and use American citizens as the pawns in a political game,” Republican House speaker Mike Johnson said at a press conference.
In a bid to convince Senate Democrats to drop their demands, Johnson has kept the House of Representatives out of session since the shutdown began, since any compromise bill would need his chamber’s approval.
As Donald Trump reaffirmed his vow to hold Democrats accountable for the funding lapse that has shut down federal agencies and placed workers on furlough across the country, the US Senate remained impassed on legislation to end the government shutdown on Thursday.
Republican and Democratic proposals to restart funding were put to a vote in the Senate in its seventh round, but neither received enough bipartisan support to pass the chamber with 60 votes. None of the senators altered their votes from the last time the bills were considered, indicating that neither party had backed down from its demands.
Republicans are demanding that Senate Democrats approve a bill that has already passed the House of Representatives to continue operations through November 21 after government funding expired last Wednesday. Democratic lawmakers, however, insist that any agreement involving government funding must be accompanied by an extension of the premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act health plans, which are set to expire at the end of this year.
Restoring funding for public media organizations and reversing cuts to the Medicaid health insurance program for low-income and disabled Americans are also among their demands.
Trump reiterated his threat to target Democratic-led states and cities for retaliation if their lawmakers do not compromise during a cabinet meeting at the White House. The Republican leaders in Congress have refused to engage in negotiations over their demands until the government is reopened.
He declared, “I hate to tell you, but we will only be cutting Democratic programs, and we will be making cuts that will be permanent.”. They will thus be given a small taste of their own medicine. “.”.
Chuck Schumer, the leading Democrat in the Senate, expressed faith in the party’s approach when he told Punchbowl News, “Every day gets better for us.”. “”.
Republicans took that comment as proof that the minority party is indifferent to the shutdown’s effects on the economy. Unless funding is restored in the next few days, federal employees are anticipated to be without pay next week.
At a news conference, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson remarked, “I find it absolutely astounding how ruthless he can be to play political games and use American citizens as the pawns in a political game.”.
Although the White House Office of Management and Budget has canceled federal funding for projects in a number of Democratic-led jurisdictions since the shutdown began, it has not yet seemed to follow through on its threat to fire government employees in large numbers.
Since the start of the shutdown, Johnson has kept the House of Representatives out of session in an attempt to persuade Senate Democrats to abandon their demands, as his chamber would need to approve any compromise bill. He hinted that if funding was not restored, he would prolong the break until the following week.
He referred to House lawmakers when he asked, “Is it better for them, probably to be physically separated right now? Yeah, probably is.”.
