Senate Eyes Weekend Session as Shutdown Drags On/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ As the federal government shutdown nears its seventh week, the Senate is preparing for weekend votes to push a funding deal forward. Senate Majority Leader John Thune says Democrats may block a key stopgap measure, triggering extended sessions. Bipartisan talks are ongoing but remain deadlocked over health care and worker protections.
Senate Weekend Session + Shutdown Quick Looks
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune signals lawmakers may remain in Washington this weekend if Democrats block the House-passed funding bill.
- A procedural vote to advance the stopgap bill is expected Friday, with additional action possible over the weekend.
- Negotiations center on a three-bill funding package for veterans programs, food aid, and other priorities, along with an extension to keep the government open until late December.
- Democrats are divided, some demanding firmer commitments on Affordable Care Act subsidies and rehiring laid-off federal workers.
- The shutdown has become the longest in U.S. history, intensifying pressure on both parties to reach a resolution.
Senate Eyes Weekend Session as Shutdown Drags On
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — The Senate is preparing for a weekend work session as the government shutdown approaches its seventh week, with Majority Leader John Thune warning members they may not be heading home anytime soon. The move follows stalled negotiations and a growing sense of urgency to pass a stopgap funding measure that could reopen federal agencies.
Shutdown Frustration Grows
Thune told reporters Friday he would “probably” keep senators in session through the weekend if Democrats block efforts to advance a House-approved continuing resolution. That resolution is being used as the foundation for a broader deal to reopen the government and fund key federal programs through at least December.
Despite early-week optimism, progress has slowed. Hopes that a few moderate Democrats might cross the aisle to help end the shutdown have dimmed, and party divisions have deepened over whether to push for more concessions or accept a temporary solution.
Democratic senators are pressing for guarantees on a future vote to extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and are demanding protections for federal employees laid off during the early days of the shutdown. Some moderates, however, are signaling interest in a broader bipartisan deal, though a consensus remains elusive.
Possible Weekend Votes
A procedural vote to move forward with the continuing resolution is expected Friday. If it fails, Thune has indicated the Senate will remain in session into the weekend to hold additional votes and continue negotiations. Several Senate aides believe Republicans may still secure at least one more Democratic vote, but Thune remained cautious about the odds.
“The Democrats who were talking about ending this earlier in the week seem to have shifted,” he said. “At some point, they need to decide whether they want to keep this going or end it.”
What’s in the Deal?
Senators from both parties are working on a potential agreement that would pair the continuing resolution with three full-year funding bills — including appropriations for veterans programs, nutrition assistance, and the legislative branch. The package could also include language promising a Senate vote on healthcare subsidies after the government reopens, as well as provisions to rehire federal employees affected by the shutdown.
Democrats sent Republicans a counterproposal Thursday, but negotiators have not yet finalized the full terms of the deal.
Political and Public Pressure
The political pressure on lawmakers is intensifying. The shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, has disrupted air travel, halted food aid programs, and left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay. Airline cancellations have surged, and cold-weather states are warning of heating assistance shortages as winter approaches.
Behind closed doors, some Democrats fear that continued resistance to reopening the government could hurt them politically — especially if voters begin blaming both parties equally for the prolonged impasse. Others remain skeptical that Republicans will follow through on promises after the shutdown ends.
Some freshman Democratic senators have taken the lead in bipartisan discussions, meeting with moderate House Republicans to explore alternatives that could pass both chambers. One Senate Democratic aide said, “We’re not going to get a better offer than what’s on the table now.”
Another aide criticized hardliners within the caucus for failing to present a clear strategy:
“They haven’t articulated how they think this ends — just that we should keep waiting. Meanwhile, it’s the most vulnerable Americans who are getting hit hardest by this shutdown.”
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