Senate fails to reopen government after fifth budget vote

The U.S. Senate has failed for the fifth time to pass any spending bill to reopen the federal government, leaving the shutdown to continue into its second week with no resolution in sight.

What Happened in the Senate?

• Both Democratic and Republican funding measures were put up for votes on Monday but failed to reach the 60-vote threshold required to advance.

• The Democratic bill, which included extensions for Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits and opposed Medicaid cuts, was voted down mostly along party lines.

• The Republican “clean” stopgap funding bill, which aimed to fund the government at existing levels until late November, also failed, with only a few defections from each party.

• The deadlock centers primarily around Democrats’ demand for health care provisions to be included in any new funding, while Republicans insist on a bill without such add-ons, focusing only on reopening the government.

Consequences of the Ongoing Shutdown

• The shutdown is now in its second week, and federal employees are starting to miss paychecks; further layoffs are anticipated if the impasse is not resolved soon.

• Essential workers such as military personnel and air traffic controllers are working without pay, and several air traffic control centers are short-staffed, causing disruptions in flight operations, including the closure of Burbank Airport’s tower.

• Major economic data releases and certain agency operations—including loan processing by the FHA and routine FDA inspections—are being halted or delayed.

Political Outlook

• President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans blame Democrats for the deadlock, arguing the opposition is using ACA credits as a bargaining chip.

• Democrats say they are open to negotiation, but insist on their healthcare priorities being addressed most notably extensions to ACA benefits and Medicaid funding.

• The House remains out of session, leaving the burden on the Senate to find a resolution, but neither side appears willing to compromise as of now.

With no agreement in sight and both sides entrenched in their positions, the shutdown is expected to continue, intensifying pressure on Congress as the effects on federal workers and government services worsen.