On Monday, the Senate failed for the fifth time to pass budgetary measures aimed at reopening the government.
Both Democrats and Republicans saw their contrasting proposals rejected, as neither reached the necessary 60 votes.
Earlier that day, President Donald Trump warned that another unsuccessful vote could lead to widespread layoffs. Thousands of federal workers were either furloughed or mandated to work without pay when funding for their agencies expired five days prior.
However, he suggested he might be willing to resolve the deadlock and potentially negotiate with Democrats who are insisting that the legislation addresses healthcare. Republicans are advocating for a “clean” funding bill.
The bill introduced by Democrats to prolong government funding was the first to fail on Monday, with a vote of 45-50. The corresponding Republican bill then also fell short at 52-42.
Immediately following the vote, Trump took to social media to place the blame on Democrats for the government shutdown.
“I am eager to collaborate with the Democrats on their Failed Healthcare Policies, or any other matters, but they must first allow our Government to reopen. Indeed, they should open our Government tonight!” he shared on his Truth Social platform.
Democrats have withheld support for the Republican proposal, arguing that it undermines healthcare access for low-income Americans.
They demand that any funding bill guarantees the continuation of health insurance subsidies for low-income individuals and reverses the cuts to the Medicaid program made by the Trump administration.
Republicans have persistently accused Democrats of causing the government shutdown to secure healthcare for undocumented immigrants—a claim Democratic leaders refute. They have also stated that they will address healthcare issues in separate legislation, once the government is reopened.
During a speech in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump mentioned that he is currently in discussions with Democratic leaders regarding potential healthcare provisions.
“We are engaged in a negotiation with the Democrats that may yield very positive outcomes. And I mean beneficial outcomes concerning healthcare,” he stated.
However, Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s Democratic leader, then shared a clip of Trump’s statements on X, declaring, “THIS ISN’T TRUE”.
Since the shutdown commenced last Wednesday, the White House has warned that permanent layoffs of federal employees are “imminent”.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated this on Monday, noting that the Office of Management and Budget is already coordinating with agencies that will need to make layoffs.
“We certainly don’t want to see workers lose their jobs. Unfortunately, if this shutdown persists, layoffs will be an unfortunate unavoidable result,” she remarked.
On Monday, Leavitt urged Democratic lawmakers to yield.
“There’s nothing to negotiate. Simply reopen the government,” she stated.
In distinct interviews with NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, the leading Democrat in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, and the chief Republican, Speaker Mike Johnson, each blamed the other party for the ongoing stalemate.
Jeffries accused Republicans of “lying” about Democrats’ negotiating stances “because they are losing the public opinion battle”.
Conversely, Johnson claimed Democrats were “not serious” and were negotiating in bad faith.
“They’re acting this way to gain political protection,” he said.
