Congress Faces Stalemate as Shutdown Looms Amidst Healthcare Debate

Fri Oct 10 2025 22:34:36 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As the US government shutdown stretches into a critical week, Congressional leaders remain entrenched in a contentious standoff over healthcare funding. Key players point fingers as public concern mounts over the economic impact.

With another voting day set for Monday, Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress are at an impasse over funding issues related to healthcare. Tensions rise as both parties blame each other for the ongoing shutdown, coinciding with increasing public concern regarding the economic ramifications. The Senate is expected to take up continuing resolution bills, while House Democrats consider their next steps amidst a narrow Republican majority.

Democratic and Republican leaders remain far apart on how to end the partial shutdown of the US government as another day of voting approaches on Monday.

In separate Sunday interviews with NBC's Meet the Press, the House's top Democrat Hakeem Jeffries and its Republican leader Mike Johnson each blamed the other's party for the continued stand-off, which will head to its fifth day on Monday.

The key dividing issue has been healthcare. Democrats want to ensure health insurance subsidies for those on low-income do not expire, and aim to reverse cuts to the Medicaid health programme.

A bill to fund the government has passed the House, but has repeatedly failed in the Senate.

Jeffries accused Republicans of lying about Democrats' intentions in the negotiations because they're losing the court of public opinion.

But Johnson said Democrats were not serious and negotiating in bad faith - they're doing this to get political cover. The Senate is expected to reconvene on Monday afternoon and once again take up a pair of continuing resolutions to fund the government. Meanwhile, House Democrats will meet on Monday to discuss the situation.

Johnson has extended a House recess through the week, meaning Congress' lower chamber will not be in session to take up a funding bill should the Senate make any changes and come to a deal.

Republicans hold a narrow majority of 53 seats in the 100-seat Senate, but any funding measure will require 60 votes to pass.

In his interview with NBC, Johnson argued that Democrats' refusal to approve a short-term spending bill that kept funding at current levels was unnecessary. The healthcare tax credits at issue do not expire until the end of the year, he said, and a Democratic proposal would add too much new spending in a seven-week stopgap measure.

Some Republicans, including Vice-President JD Vance, have cast the Democrats' position as trying to give healthcare benefits to illegal aliens. Democrats have denied those claims and illegal or undocumented immigrants are not eligible for the schemes the Democrats are supporting, according to BBC Verify.

New polling data from CBS, the BBC's US news partner, found that Americans view both parties' handling of the shutdown unfavourably, with Trump also netting a negative reception. The survey found that 80% of the nearly 2,500 Americans polled were very or somewhat concerned about the shutdown's effect on the economy.

As the shutdown drags into its second week, the consequences are beginning to mount, with institutions such as The National Gallery of Art announcing closures due to funding constraints. Amidst this turmoil, calls for bipartisan cooperation grow louder as leaders from both parties seek pathways to resolve the crisis.