There's movement on the Hill for the first time since the government shut down on October 1 – as Churchill once said, it's, "perhaps, the end of the beginning." (Mehmet Eser/Anadolu via Getty Images)
That’s why it’s significant there are at least attempts to turn the wheels of Congress to open the government. But that may take a while.
That’s why it’s notable that, for the first time since October 1, lawmakers are even attempting to turn the gears of government back on.
"I'm optimistic that we should get something done this week," said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D. "I think there's a path forward here."
Back on Tuesday, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., believed the Senate would vote soon.
"I think it probably could happen Thursday. It might be pushed until Friday. But more than likely Thursday," said Mullin.
But the Oklahoma Republican offered this caveat.
"I'm just making assumptions," cautioned Mullin.
OVER ONE MONTH INTO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND NO END IN SIGHT – BUT PREDICTIONS RUN RAMPANT
This is the government shutdown of 2025. And no one knows anything.
Mullin was back on FOX Business on Wednesday, recalibrating what he said a day earlier.
"There's been a group working in a very strong bipartisan manner, saying once this election is over, we're going to reopen. And then today, they came back with some of the most ridiculous demands to take authority away from President Trump – wanting us as a Senate to guarantee what the House can and can't do. And it's just not feasible," said Mullin.
Republicans have long known that the House-passed interim spending bill (from September 19) simply doesn’t work anymore. Even if the Senate were to align with the House, that legislation only funds the government through November 21. And that would deposit Congress right back where it started on October 1 with a shutdown.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., claims his caucus has said from the start that they'll "evaluate in good faith any bipartisan agreement that emerges from the Senate." (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)
And that’s why the government likely remains shuttered for a while – even though there are bona fide efforts to solve the crisis.
"I don't think any of us expected that it would drag on this long," said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
But on Thursday, Senate Republicans developed a new plan which they hoped might end the government shutdown.
Or at least liquefy the ice a little more.
OPTIMISM FADES AS SENATE DEMOCRATS DIG IN, HOLD OUT OVER OBAMACARE DEMANDS
Republicans are challenging Democrats to block a test vote on a new gambit which would fund the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects, the Department of Agriculture and Congress itself. That represents three of the 12 federal spending areas which Congress must approve each year. This plan would fund those three sectors until September 30, 2026. Lawmakers would attach another Band-Aid spending bill for the rest of the government until late January. But it was unclear if Democrats would go along.
"I'm less optimistic this morning than I was yesterday," said Johnson. "What I understand is that Chuck Schumer has pulled them back from that and that they're being instructed and told they can't go there."
And progressives are again leaning on Schumer.
Especially after his decision to help fund the government in March.
"He's got to keep doing it and we've got to deliver a win because we can't have what happened in the spring happen again," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., to colleague Aishah Hasnie.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., noted that the air travel threatened by the shutdown is "nothing to mess around with." (Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Aviation concerns are gripping the nation. But only one Republican is saying out loud what everyone is thinking.
"All it takes is one little accident. And if people die?" said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. "So air travel is nothing to mess around with."
Even if the Senate votes this week, few expect an immediate breakthrough.
"My hopes and expectations are always that we're going to have enough Democrats to actually proceed. But I don't know. We’ll see," said Thune. "The Dems are having a hard time taking yes for an answer."
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., offered his own time frame.
"We're at least seven days and more likely ten and very possibly two weeks away from opening up at best," said Kennedy.
Democrats are split as to what they want to do. Still, many want an off-ramp. And progressives are ready to rage if moderate Democrats burn them again.
So we are far from the end of the government shutdown saga. But we’re not at the beginning anymore. Perhaps that’s solace to those tracking the shutdown.
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After all, anything which begins – usually ends.
Eventually.
Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/lawmakers-budge-ushering-government-shutdowns-potential-end-beginning