Senate Works Through Weekend to End 39-Day Shutdown as Health Care Dispute Stalls Progress

For the first time since the government shutdown began more than a month ago, senators are working through the weekend in a bid to find a bipartisan resolution to the standoff that has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid, disrupted airline operations, and delayed food assistance for millions of Americans.

As the Senate convened on Saturday, uncertainty loomed over whether Republicans and Democrats could bridge their differences and reopen the government, now entering its 39th day of closure.

President Donald Trump signaled little interest in compromise, blasting the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on social media as “the worst Healthcare anywhere in the world.” He suggested that Congress instead send direct payments to Americans to purchase insurance.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Trump’s proposal was not part of the emerging discussions to end the shutdown but called it “a discussion that the president and all of us want to have.” He pledged to keep the Senate in session “until this is resolved,” expressing hope that “ideally, we could vote today.”

Republican leaders have shown cautious openness to a proposal from a group of moderate Democrats led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who is spearheading talks for a compromise that would reopen the government in exchange for a later vote on ACA subsidies.

“After the latest offer was rejected, we need another path forward,” Shaheen said Friday evening. “We’re working on it.”

Moderates Explore Partial Funding Approach

Negotiators are weighing a plan that would fund critical government areas such as food aid, veterans’ programs, and the legislative branch, while extending overall funding into December or January. In exchange, Republicans would agree to hold a future vote on ACA tax credits — though not guarantee their extension.

Whether Democrats will support such a plan remains uncertain. Trump appears opposed to any extension of health benefits, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he would not commit to a health care vote.

Republican leaders need just five more votes to pass a funding bill. The bipartisan group in talks has included roughly a dozen Democratic senators.

Some Republicans have expressed willingness to extend the pandemic-era ACA tax credits but want to impose new limits on eligibility. “We’re going to replace this broken system with something that is actually better for the consumer,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

Trump, Vance Call to Scrap Filibuster

Trump has urged Republicans to end the shutdown swiftly and eliminate the Senate filibuster — which requires 60 votes for most legislation — allowing them to act without Democratic support. Vice President JD Vance backed the idea on Saturday, calling Republicans who defend the filibuster “wrong.”

Republican leaders, however, have rejected that suggestion. Thune is instead pushing for a bipartisan package similar to what moderates are drafting, though his stance on the health care provisions remains unclear.

The emerging Senate proposal would replace the House-passed funding bill that Democrats have blocked 14 times since the shutdown began on October 1. While the House version funds the government only through November 21, senators are considering an extension through January.

Democrats Face a Tough Decision

If Thune moves ahead, a test vote on the new legislation could come within days — forcing Democrats to choose between prolonging the shutdown to secure guaranteed ACA subsidies or accepting a short-term deal with only a promise of a future vote.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) urged Republicans to agree to a one-year extension of the ACA tax credits before moving forward. “Doing nothing is derelict because people will go bankrupt, people will lose insurance, people will get sicker,” Schumer warned in a floor speech.

Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) said Democrats should “stand strong” following their recent electoral victories, arguing that public support is on their side.