The US government shutdown has persisted for more than a week, entering its ninth day today, and Congress still appears deadlocked.
This comes as Senators failed for the seventh time to advance to a final vote on a stopgap funding bill.
The Senate today again failed to advance two competing spending proposals from Democrats and Republicans.
The Senate failed to advance Republicans’ stopgap funding bill once again in a 54 to 45 vote. The 54-45 vote tally fell along the same lines it has since the start of the shutdown, with three members of the Democratic Caucus voting in favor and one Republican voting against. Republicans need 60 votes.
The Democrats’ stopgap funding bill also failed in a 47 to 50 vote.
The GOP-written stopgap funding bill failed for the sixth time to clear the upper chamber yesterday, Wednesday, October 8, 2025, while both parties continue to blame the other for the government shutdown.
Democrats have been resolute that health care provisions – including the extension of ACA subsidies – must be part of any short-term funding patch, while Republicans want to pass a “clean” bill that keeps the government funded, as is, until 21 November.
In an interview today, Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, said that “House and Senate Democrats have been completely aligned, and Senate Democrats continue to hold the line in a strong and principled way on behalf of the American people.”
“Isn’t it reasonable for working-class Americans, for middle class Americans, for everyday Americans who are facing the possibility of dramatically increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles.
“We’re talking about thousands of dollars per year in additional health care costs. Isn’t it reasonable for them to have a similar level of certainty in their lives.”
Hakeem Jeffries
Speaking at a press conference at the US Capitol, House Speaker, Mike Johnson continued to blame Democratic lawmakers for the lapse in funding. “It’s political theater to them,” he said. “They’ve reduced Americans pain to a political problem,” Johnson added.
Johnson noted that he spoke to Donald Trump on Wednesday night, following the news of the first phase of the peace deal in Gaza.
“He and I both lament, we all do, this terrible situation that we’re in while we’re working to do all these positive things for the people and even settle conflicts around the world.”
Mike Johnson
Meanwhile, members of the military stand to miss their next paycheck on 15 October if a funding bill isn’t passed, or lawmakers don’t pass a stand alone bill to ensure service members are paid during the shutdown.
When asked about passing a stand alone bill to keep members of the military paid, Johnson was evasive today, suggesting it was off the table.
He added that separate legislation wouldn’t be needed if Senate Democrats advance the House-passed funding bill.
Trump Vows To Target “Democrat Programs” For Cuts If Shutdown Continues
US President, Donald Trump said during a Cabinet meeting that he planned to cut federal programs popular with Democrats as Congress appears to remain deadlocked on reopening the government.
“We’ll be making cuts that will be permanent, and we’re only going to cut Democrat programs. They wanted to do this, so we’ll give the a little taste of their own medicine.”
Donald Trump
Trump did not specify which programs he planned to target for cuts. However, the President has threatened for days to begin mass firings if Democrats continue to hold to their demands for concessions in exchange for passing a federal funding bill.
“We’ll be cutting some very popular Democrat programs that aren’t popular with Republicans, frankly, because that’s the way it works.”
Donald Trump
Democratic lawmakers have largely brushed off the threat so far, noting that that the administration has long advocated for deeper cuts to the federal workforce — and could still follow through with them at any point, even after the government reopens.
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