Congressional leaders continued to level fingers at each other as time ticked nearer to a 12:01 a.m. Wednesday deadline for the federal government to close down if Congress cannot cross a measure to fund it.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune in a information convention Tuesday afternoon stated that Democrats had voted for persevering with resolutions to maintain the federal government funded 13 occasions after they had been within the majority.
“It begs the query as to what’s modified. And I feel what’s modified is President Trump is within the White Home. That is what that is about. That is politics and there is no substantive purpose why there should be a authorities shutdown.”
Republicans are pushing for a “clear” persevering with decision that might maintain the federal government funded by way of mid-November after passing one in March that carried the federal government by way of the top of the fiscal yr.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune speaks throughout a press convention, following Senate Republican weekly coverage lunch, hours earlier than a partial authorities shutdown is about to take impact, on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 30, 2025.
Alex Wroblewski/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
However Democrats are holding out for a deal that might restore $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts handed into legislation this summer time on prime of a everlasting extension of the Obamacare subsidies set to run out on the finish of the yr, saving medical insurance for 3.8 million individuals at a price of $350 billion over the subsequent decade, in line with the Congressional Finances Workplace.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer held agency to his perception that Republicans will personal this shutdown for refusing to barter with Democrats on well being care priorities.
“They name it clear, we name it extraordinarily partisan. Not one dialogue, Home or Senate, between the 2 leaders. That’s not the way you negotiate and that isn’t the way you cross appropriation payments,” Schumer stated on the Senate flooring Tuesday morning.
Home Republicans handed a stopgap measure to maintain the federal government open by way of Nov. 21, the measure stalled within the Senate, the place Thune will want at the least seven Democrats to vote for it to cross.
Republicans crafted a clear seven-week funding invoice with a purpose to create extra time for congressional appropriators to work by way of common order: 12 separate full-year funding payments. Congress has not handed all 12 appropriations payments by way of common order since 1997, and the duty has been accomplished solely 4 occasions since 1977 when present funds guidelines took impact.
Thune is anticipated to pressure the Senate to vote repeatedly on the Home’s clear seven-week funding invoice. His purpose is to pressure Democrats to solid repeated votes in opposition to funding the federal government.
He scheduled two votes Tuesday afternoon — each would wish 60 votes to cross and each are anticipated to fail. The primary is on the Democrat proposal that features an extension of the ACA premium tax credit and the reversal of Republican Medicaid cuts. The second is on the Home-approved Republican seven-week persevering with decision.
However Senate Democrats appeared unlikely to vote with Republicans to cross the persevering with decision.
“I’ve by no means seen Democratic senators extra unified and resolute,” Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal stated. “We’re completely decided that this ticking clock is not going to deter us from saving American well being care. Actually, it is about actual lives, illness that may’t await a so-called CR, persevering with decision extension of funding. They’ll filibuster loads of issues, however not individuals getting sick, and notably kids needing care.”
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer speaks to the members of the media throughout a press convention, following Senate Democrats weekly coverage lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 30, 2025.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois stated Monday’s assembly on the White Home with President Donald Trump and congressional leaders from each events was a missed alternative to avert a shutdown.
“I feel yesterday was a chance that was missed. The gathering of the White Home was an opportunity for the legislative leaders with the president to keep away from a authorities shutdown, and there wasn’t any follow-up in any respect,” Durbin stated. “We have not had one assembly on the desk of the management to speak about ending this. It occurred yesterday within the White Home, however apparently no follow-up.”
In the meantime, Trump appeared to waver Tuesday on whether or not there can be a shutdown whereas persevering with to push false claims about what Democrats need within the funding invoice.
“Nothing is inevitable, however I might say it is most likely seemingly, as a result of they wish to give well being care to unlawful immigrants, which can destroy well being care for everyone else in our nation. And I did not see them bend even somewhat bit after I stated, we won’t do this,” Trump stated within the Oval Workplace.
However he later stated, “We’re not shutting it down. We do not need it to close down as a result of we have now the best time frame ever. I informed you, we have now $17 trillion being invested. So the final particular person that wishes to close down is us.”
Trump stated Democrats had been “taking a threat” in not supporting the Republicans’ clear persevering with decision, “due to the shutdown, we are able to do issues medically and different methods, together with advantages. We are able to lower massive numbers of individuals. We do not wish to do this, however we do not need fraud, waste and abuse.”
ABC Information confirmed final week that the White Home had alerted companies to organize for furloughs forward of a doable authorities shutdown and likewise threatening mass firings that would develop into everlasting if a shutdown isn’t averted.
Requested if he thought it was acceptable to fireplace federal staff throughout a shutdown, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham stated, “I feel you possibly can scale back the federal work pressure and possibly not harm outcomes.”
Trump appeared open to extra discussions earlier Tuesday as he returned from a speech to generals and admirals with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. Requested if he would speak to Democrats earlier than the deadline, Trump replied, “Sure.”
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries flanked by Rep. Pete Aguilar and Rep. Katherine Clark speaks on the steps of the Capitol, in Washington, Sept. 30, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Earlier Tuesday, 150 Home Democrats rallied on the Home steps, presenting unity as every social gathering makes an attempt to position blame for a lapse in funding.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries fired up Democrats, addressing a deepfake video generated by synthetic intelligence shared Monday night time by President Donald Trump, which disparaged Jeffries and Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer.
“Mr. President, permit me to reintroduce myself,” Jeffries stated, quoting the opening lyrics from Jay-Z’s “Public Service Announcement” and receiving a loud spherical of applause from the caucus. “I am the Home Democratic Chief. Our caucus is 217 members sturdy. We serve in a separate and coequal department of presidency. We do not be just right for you. We work for the American individuals.”
Within the publish on his social media platform, Trump shared the video that offered Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer and Jeffries throughout their remarks on the White Home after assembly with Trump and Republican leaders, however dubbed Schumer saying disparaging issues about his social gathering.
The video additionally confirmed Jeffries sporting a sombrero, prompting Jeffries to name it “bigoted.”
“Mr. President, the subsequent time you have got one thing to say about me, do not cop out by way of a racist and faux AI video. Once I’m again within the Oval Workplace, say it to my face!” Jeffries boomed.
Jeffries sharply criticized Home Republicans for canceling votes this week.
“Disgrace on them for being on trip all throughout the nation and the world over on the eve of a authorities shutdown,” he stated. “They’re on trip as a result of they’d reasonably shut the federal government down than defend the well being care of the American individuals. That is unfathomable, that is unacceptable, that is unconscionable, and that is un-American. Do your job.”
Johnson posted Tuesday morning that Schumer and Democrats are “planning to SHUT DOWN the federal government — merely to oppose President Trump and appease their far-left base.”
ABC Information’ Isabella Murray, Hannah Demissie and Emily Chang contributed to this report.
