Senate GOP to Meet Trump as Shutdown Hits Week Four/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ As the government shutdown enters its fourth week, Senate Republicans are meeting with President Trump at the White House to display unity rather than negotiate. Democrats remain firm on demanding health care subsidy extensions before reopening the government. Meanwhile, the shutdown’s effects are growing across federal services and households.
Government Shutdown Week Four Quick Looks
- Senate Republicans join President Trump at the White House for a show of unity.
- Both parties are refusing to budge on conditions to reopen the government.
- Democrats demand action on expiring ACA subsidies before negotiations proceed.
- GOP lawmakers say Trump will urge Republicans to “stand strong.”
- Shutdown disrupts paychecks, delays flights, and threatens federal programs like WIC and Head Start.
- Senate Democrats have blocked the House GOP funding bill 11 times.
- AP-NORC poll shows growing public concern over rising health care costs.
- Lawmakers face November deadlines for funding and ACA enrollment.
Deep Look: Senate Republicans Back Trump as Government Shutdown Enters Fourth Week
WASHINGTON — October 21, 2025 — As the federal government shutdown drags into its fourth week, Senate Republicans are gathering at the White House, not for negotiations but to signal unwavering support for President Donald Trump and their shared refusal to engage with Democratic demands — particularly those tied to health care.
Tuesday’s Rose Garden lunch is more symbolic than strategic, highlighting the GOP’s commitment to stand united with Trump amid growing fallout from the prolonged budget standoff.
While Americans across the country brace for another round of missed paychecks, stalled public services, and rising concerns about health care coverage, Washington remains gridlocked.
GOP’s Message: “Stand Strong”
According to Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, Trump’s expected message to Republican senators during Tuesday’s lunch is simple: “Stand strong.” In an appearance on Fox & Friends, Barrasso confirmed that the gathering is meant to reinforce Republican unity rather than signal progress toward ending the shutdown.
Senate GOP leader John Thune, of South Dakota, hinted Monday that Trump might eventually be open to discussions about extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, but only after Democrats agree to reopen the government.
“They’re not going to negotiate while the government is closed,” said Thune. “But we’re not going to open the government without some compromise.”
Stalemate Deepens as Shutdown Effects Worsen
The shutdown is no longer a political abstraction. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are again missing paychecks, with no clear timeline for relief.
Programs like WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and Head Start, which support low-income families and early childhood education, are rapidly running out of funding. Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned of flight delays due to air traffic controller shortages.
At the Department of Energy, 1,400 employees from the National Nuclear Security Administration are now furloughed, further straining federal operations.
A new Associated Press-NORC poll reveals that a majority of U.S. adults are worried about rising health care costs in 2026, especially as uncertainty clouds future ACA premiums. The ACA subsidies, expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, are set to expire at the end of the year — an issue central to the Democratic platform in these negotiations.
Democrats Demand Health Care Action
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer reiterated on Monday that Democrats won’t vote to reopen the government without a resolution on ACA subsidies.
“Our position remains the same,” said Schumer. “We want to end the shutdown and fix the ACA premium crisis that looms over 20 million hardworking Americans.”
Schumer dismissed Tuesday’s White House meeting as a “pep rally” and criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson for keeping the House out of session during a national crisis.
Looming November Deadlines Raise Stakes
While lawmakers remain at an impasse, critical deadlines are fast approaching:
- Nov. 1 marks the start of open enrollment for ACA coverage for 2026. Without action, millions will sign up for plans without the expanded subsidies, making any retroactive relief harder to implement.
- The current GOP spending bill, rejected 11 times by Senate Democrats, would only extend government funding through Nov. 21.
Thune noted Monday that if no deal is reached, Republicans may push for a longer stopgap measure to fund the government temporarily, though he admitted a broader solution seems increasingly unlikely in the near term.
Trump’s Role Under Scrutiny
Despite his dominant presence in GOP politics, Trump has mostly focused on foreign policy in recent weeks. But with this week’s White House lunch, the president is now re-entering the domestic spotlight.
Last week, Trump dismissed Democratic demands as “crazy”, showing no willingness to compromise on ACA subsidies or social spending.
Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota said that the meeting will allow lawmakers to “talk strategy” with Trump and “do anything we can to get Democrats to join us.”
But Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana was blunt about the GOP strategy: “Until they put something reasonable on the table to talk about, I don’t think there’s anything to talk about.”
Democrats Call on Trump to Lead
Democrats argue that without direct leadership from Trump, no meaningful progress can occur.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said, “He needs to get off the sidelines, get off the golf course. We know that House and Senate Republicans don’t do anything without getting permission from their boss, Donald J. Trump.”
With federal operations slowing to a crawl and public frustration growing, the coming weeks will test how long both sides can hold their positions — and how much the American people will tolerate the consequences.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.