The US government shutdown is set to continue into next week after the Senate once again failed to advance competing funding proposals on Friday. Both Republican and Democratic plans fell short of the 60 votes needed to move forward, marking the fourth failed attempt to end the funding lapse. Three Democrats sided with Republicans in support of the GOP measure, but it still did not meet the required threshold.
The Republican-backed bill, which had already passed the House, would have extended government funding through November 21, while the Democratic proposal sought a shorter extension through October and included the renewal of health care tax credits — a key Democratic priority. GOP leaders have insisted that Democrats first vote to reopen the government before negotiations over health care begin. However, without bipartisan cooperation, neither side has been able to break the impasse, now stretching into its third day.
Amid the continued stalemate, Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated there would likely be no weekend votes if the GOP bill failed again. In a move to escalate pressure on the upper chamber, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the House would not reconvene in Washington next week, allowing members to remain in their districts. The extended shutdown leaves hundreds of thousands of federal workers uncertain about when they will return to work or receive their next paycheck.
