Federal Shutdown Persists as Senate Fails to Pass Funding Measures

Fri Oct 10 2025 22:33:32 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The latest attempt to reopen the government has failed with both Democratic and Republican proposals rejected in the Senate, leading to increasing tensions and potential layoffs.

The U.S. Senate has failed for the fifth time to enact spending measures to end the government shutdown, with both parties' proposals not meeting the required 60 votes. President Trump hinted at a willingness to negotiate with Democrats on healthcare issues amidst accusations from both sides regarding responsibility for the disagreement.

The Senate on Monday failed for a fifth time to pass spending measures reopening the government.

Competing proposals by Democrats and Republicans were both shot down, failing to meet the 60-vote threshold required.

President Donald Trump said earlier in the day that another failed vote would trigger mass layoffs. Thousands of federal employees were furloughed or ordered to work without pay when funding for their agencies ended five days ago.

But he hinted that he was open to trying to end the impasse and possibly strike a deal with Democrats who are sticking to demands that the legislation address healthcare. Republicans are pressing for a clean funding bill.

The Democratic-led bill to extend the government's funding failed first on Monday with a 45-50 vote. Its Republican counterpart then fell short at 52-42.

Soon after the vote, Trump took to social media to blame Democrats for shutting down the government.

Donald Trump stated, I am happy to work with the Democrats on their Failed Healthcare Policies, or anything else, but first they must allow our Government to re-open. In fact, they should open our Government tonight! on his Truth Social platform.

Democrats have held out on supporting the Republican-led proposal because they say it undercuts medical access for lower-income Americans.

They want any funding bill to ensure health insurance subsidies for lower-income Americans do not expire and reverse the Trump administration's cuts to the Medicaid health program.

Republicans have repeatedly accused Democrats of shutting down the government to provide healthcare to undocumented immigrants - a charge which Democratic leaders deny. They also maintain they will work on the healthcare issue in separate legislation, after the government reopens.

Trump mentioned he is currently negotiating with Democratic leadership on possible healthcare provisions, claiming, We have a negotiation going on right now with the Democrats that could lead to very good things. And I'm talking about good things with regard to healthcare.

However, Chuck Schumer, Senate Democrats' leader, rebuffed these negotiations, posting a reminder of Trump's remarks with the statement THIS ISN'T TRUE.

The White House has warned that permanent firings of federal employees are imminent due to the shutdown. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the Office of Management and Budget is preparing agencies to lay off workers if the shutdown persists, saying, We don't want to see people laid off. But unfortunately, if this shutdown continues, layoffs are going to be an unfortunate consequence of that.

Meanwhile, Leavitt called on Democratic lawmakers to relent: There's nothing to negotiate. Just reopen the government.

In discussions on NBC's Meet the Press, tensions were evident, with House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries and Speaker Mike Johnson each placing blame on the opposing party for the failure to negotiate. Jeffries referred to Republican claims as lies categorizing Democrats' intentions in negotiations, while Johnson accused Democrats of being not serious and negotiating in bad faith.