No progress on funding as Trump cuts programs amid shutdown

By Thérèse Boudreaux
The Center Square

After a third week of making zero progress on a federal funding deal, lawmakers have headed home for the weekend with no hopes of ending the government shutdown anytime soon.

The Senate held its tenth vote on Republicans’ clean Continuing Resolution to reopen and fund the government until mid-November, giving lawmakers time to finish all 12 annual appropriations bills.

For the tenth time, Democrats filibustered the vote, demanding Republican leaders guarantee an extension of the enhanced version of Obamacare Premium Tax Credits set to expire Dec. 31. They also voted down the 2026 Department of Defense appropriations bill, which would not have ended the government shutdown but would have ensured military servicemembers receive paychecks.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Republican leaders have described Democrats’ tactics as “holding the government hostage.” Thune promised Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., a discussion and a vote on Obamacare subsidies in exchange for opening the government. Schumer refused.

“I’m not sure how much clearer I can be, but let me give it a try. I am willing to sit down with Democrats to discuss the growing unaffordability and unsustainability of Obamacare. It’s a system they created, but I’m happy to hear them out,” Thune reiterated on X on Friday.

“Heck, I’m even willing to give them a vote. Today. Tomorrow. Next week. You name it. But there’s one condition: End the Schumer Shutdown,” he said. “I will not negotiate under hostage conditions, nor will I pay a ransom. Period.”

With hundreds of thousands of federal workers now furloughed and thousands more working without pay, Republicans have lost patience. The Trump administration has not only begun to permanently cut thousands of “nonessential” federal positions – which a federal judge recently blocked – but President Donald Trump has also said he plans to eliminate some government programs.

“[Democrats] made one mistake. They didn’t realize that [shutting down the government] gives me the right to cut programs that Republicans never wanted. You know, giveaways, welfare programs, etc… and we’re cutting them permanently,” Trump said on Fox News.

The longest the U.S. government ever remained shuttered was 35 days. Among other impacts, the current shutdown has shuttered major tax services, delayed air travel, disrupted disaster relief loans, and paused the processing of federal farm, home, and small business loans. The U.S. economy loses an estimated $15 billion in revenue every day the government remains closed.