Senate Republicans aren't ready to go "nuclear" on the filibuster as the government shutdown continues on, despite Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., pushing to change the rules for nominees earlier this year. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
But Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., remain adamant that they will not provide Republicans and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., the needed votes to reopen the government unless there is a firm deal to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies.
Both sides are talking, breaking up into small groups that are focused on some of the Democrats’ demands, like extending the subsidies or putting guardrails on future rescissions and impoundments of federal funding.
Still, no concrete negotiations or an off-ramp out of the shutdown have materialized.
"I think Leader Schumer's checked out," Thune told reporters on Friday. "I don't think this is going to happen. I think this is going to happen organically with enough reasonable Senate Democrats who care enough about doing the right thing for their country and not what's in the best interests of their left-wing political base to come forward and help us find a solution."
So far only three Senate Democratic caucus members, Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Angus King, I-Vt., have consistently crossed the aisle to reopen the government.
SENATE LEAVES WASHINGTON AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN NEARS 3RD WEEK, MILITARY PAY AT RISK
President Donald Trump makes his way to board Air Force One before departing from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Sept. 21, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/AFP)
But Senate Republicans have countered throughout the shutdown that Democrats routinely voted for CRs under former President Joe Biden, and that the only difference between then and now is that Trump is in office.
"A political game is being played by the Democrats because they think that every day gets better for them," Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said. "And this isn't right versus left. This is right versus wrong. That's what we're facing in this country today."
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And there’s still another deadline on Capitol Hill fast approaching, this time to pay Senate staff.
"I’m concerned about everybody going without pay," Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said. "We need to open the government back up, and I think people need to sit down and talk to each other. And so far, the president has been unwilling to talk, the leadership in both houses have been unwilling to talk."
Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-set-new-vote-end-shutdown-gridlock-over-obamacare-subsidies-remains