Hopes for a quick resolution to the US Government Shutdown dimmed Friday after the Senate again failed to advance a Republican plan to reopen federal agencies. President Donald Trump prepared to escalate the standoff with threats of layoffs and deep spending cuts, according to AP.
On the third day of the shutdown, senators rejected a GOP-backed funding bill 54-44, falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Democrats remained largely united in opposition, except for three who supported the measure, while Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky was the lone Republican to vote no.
“I don’t know how many times you’re going to give them a chance to vote no,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., before heading home for the weekend.
No Immediate Resolution, Talks on Hold
With both parties digging in, the shutdown will continue at least until next week. The Senate will not take more votes until Monday, and the House has canceled all votes, with no plans to return until October 14, NBC reported.
Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress, but Senate rules give Democrats leverage with 47 seats. Democrats have tied their demands to extending pandemic-era health care subsidies, warning of rising premiums and deductibles.
“Everyone is about to experience dramatically increased costs because of the Republican health care crisis,” said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Trump Threatens Federal Agencies and Spending Cuts
Trump has promised to make the shutdown painful, calling it an “opportunity” to slash federal agencies. His budget chief, Russ Vought, has already frozen billions in infrastructure funds, including $2.1 billion for a Chicago transit project. Federal workers face uncertainty, with an estimated 750,000 furloughed, losing roughly $400 million in wages each day.
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the GOP strategy, accusing Democrats of “playing politics” with Americans’ livelihoods. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned: “This madness must end,” noting military families are already seeking food aid as paychecks are withheld.
Behind the scenes, bipartisan senators discussed a possible one-year extension of health subsidies, though no deal emerged. Thune acknowledged “more productive conversations” were happening privately but emphasized that Republicans want the government reopened first.
“We can’t get to that conversation until we get the government back in place,” Thune said.
A Shutdown Like No Other
The first US government shutdown in nearly seven years has been marked by personal attacks, mockery, and sweeping federal cuts, according to historians. Trump has used social media to post AI-generated videos mocking Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries, which critics called racist and bigoted.
At the same time, Trump has used the shutdown to slash funding in Democratic-led states. The Energy Department recently canceled more than $7.5 billion in awards, primarily in states with Democratic governors or senators.
“I can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity,” Trump wrote on social media, calling some federal departments “Democrat Agencies” and signaling both temporary and permanent cuts.
University of Pennsylvania history professor Brent Cebul told The New York Times: “This is about power, and policy is very much secondary to that. It’s rancorous politics that are also about retribution.”
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich compared Trump’s approach to past shutdowns: “Trump is taking apart the world of the left. This is a very methodical, aggressive cultural and political and economic offensive.”
Patrick Griffin, Clinton’s legislative affairs director, added: “The fundamental difference is the hostility and vitriol that are behind all of this. It feels very different.”
