Senate Democrats Hold Firm as GOP Eyes Friday Vote to End Shutdown
The U.S. government shutdown has now stretched into its 38th day, and tensions in Washington are higher than ever. As Americans grow increasingly frustrated over missed paychecks, canceled flights, and suspended services, Senate Republicans are preparing for a crucial vote on Friday that they hope could finally break the stalemate.
Senate GOP leaders are trying a fresh approach — one they believe might draw in enough moderate Democrats to move forward. Their plan centers on advancing the House-passed continuing resolution, but with amendments that would attach long-term appropriations bills and extend government funding beyond November 21. The idea is to entice moderates with a broader deal that includes promises of a future vote on extending health care subsidies.
But the bar is high — the proposal will need 60 votes to pass, and the Senate hasn’t managed to clear that threshold in more than a month. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he’s cautiously hopeful but not overly confident, admitting, “We’ll see if we have enough Democrats to actually proceed.”
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Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson has maintained his hard line. He insists the House has already done its job and refuses to guarantee a vote on health care subsidies. That stance has left many Democrats skeptical, questioning whether any Senate promises would even hold up once the bill reaches the House.
Behind closed doors, Senate Democrats held a lengthy meeting on Thursday. Emerging afterward, they remained mostly quiet about their strategy, though a few described the discussions as “productive” and “focused on unity and health care.” The division between moderates eager to compromise and progressives demanding more concrete guarantees continues to shape the Democratic response.
Adding to the pressure, a federal judge recently ordered the administration to restore full SNAP food benefits for November — a ruling the White House quickly appealed. Vice President JD Vance called the order “absurd,” arguing that courts shouldn’t dictate how the government allocates funds during a shutdown.
Outside of Capitol Hill, the impact is becoming painfully visible. The FAA has announced that airlines must reduce flight operations at 40 airports by 10% over the next week because unpaid air traffic controllers can’t safely maintain full capacity. Union leaders say stress and financial strain among controllers are reaching dangerous levels, with reports of evictions and emotional fatigue mounting.
Still, both parties seem to be digging in. Republicans floated the idea of a narrow filibuster rule change to reopen the government with just a simple majority, but even that idea appears unlikely to move forward. The 60-vote rule remains a key obstacle — one that neither side seems ready to break.
As the shutdown drags on, the human toll grows clearer. Federal workers are struggling to make rent, food aid is in limbo, and travel disruptions are piling up. Friday’s vote may offer a glimmer of hope, but unless both parties find common ground soon, millions of Americans will continue to pay the price for Washington’s political gridlock.
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