Republicans clash on path to end shutdown after six defeats
House and Senate Republicans have failed six times to pass funding legislation since the government shutdown began October 1, 2025. Some GOP members now want to negotiate on Affordable Care Act subsidies before advancing any funding bill.
Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the impasse is "stuck." Republicans initially expected Democrats to accept a funding bill without concessions. Democrats refused.
Some Republicans are calling on leadership to reopen talks on reviving ACA tax credits that expire this year. President Trump said he is open to health care discussions but wants the government reopened first. Democrats have rejected that condition.
The Senate has repeatedly failed to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to advance either Republican or Democratic funding proposals. Some senators have suggested weekend or off-hour votes as options.
Some Republicans are calling on leadership to reopen talks on reviving ACA tax credits that expire this year. President Trump said he is open to health care discussions but wants the government reopened first. Democrats have rejected that condition.
The Senate has repeatedly failed to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to advance either Republican or Democratic funding proposals. Some senators have suggested weekend or off-hour votes as options.
Democratic demands include extending ACA subsidies, reversing recent Medicaid cuts, and limiting executive spending powers. Republicans are divided on whether to address these issues before or after reopening the government.
The shutdown has delayed federal data releases and triggered furloughs across multiple agencies. Analysts estimate each week shave 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points off the U.S. GDP growth.
The six failed votes in both chambers included different versions of short-term funding measures and competing proposals from each party.Several prominent Republicans have publicly called for negotiation rather than continued standoff. Polls show the GOP taking most of the blame.
No votes are currently scheduled that could break the deadlock. Both parties remain dug in on their positions regarding the sequencing of health care negotiations and government funding.
Federal workers and agencies are operating under contingency plans; essential services remain active but nonessential functions have halted.
The shutdown has delayed federal data releases and triggered furloughs across multiple agencies. Analysts estimate each week shave 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points off the U.S. GDP growth.
The six failed votes in both chambers included different versions of short-term funding measures and competing proposals from each party.Several prominent Republicans have publicly called for negotiation rather than continued standoff. Polls show the GOP taking most of the blame.
No votes are currently scheduled that could break the deadlock. Both parties remain dug in on their positions regarding the sequencing of health care negotiations and government funding.
Federal workers and agencies are operating under contingency plans; essential services remain active but nonessential functions have halted.
Author
Sebile Fane cut her teeth in blockchain by building tiny NFT experiments with friends in her living room, long before the buzzwords took hold. She’s driven by a curiosity for the human stories behind smart contracts — whether it’s a small-town artist minting her first token or a DAO voting on climate grants — and weaves technical insight with genuine empathy.
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