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The United States Senate failed for a fifth time on Monday to advance spending measures aimed at ending the ongoing government shutdown.
Competing proposals from both Democratic and Republican parties were defeated, each failing to secure the necessary 60 votes for passage.
Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump reiterated warnings of potential mass layoffs should the vote fail. Thousands of federal employees have been furloughed or compelled to work without pay since funding for their respective agencies lapsed five days prior.
However, the President signaled a potential willingness to resolve the impasse and engage in negotiations with Democrats, who are advocating for healthcare provisions to be included in the legislation. Republicans, meanwhile, are pushing for a “clean” funding bill.
The Democratic-backed bill to extend government funding was initially defeated with a vote of 45-50. Subsequently, the Republican proposal fell short at 52-42.
Shortly after the vote, President Trump utilized social media to assert that Democrats were responsible for the government shutdown.
“I am happy to work with the Democrats on their Failed Healthcare Policies, or anything else, but first they must allow our Government to re-open. In fact, they should open our Government tonight!” he posted on his Truth Social platform.
Democrats have withheld support for the Republican proposal due to concerns that it would negatively impact access to medical care for lower-income Americans.
They are seeking assurance that any funding bill will maintain health insurance subsidies for lower-income individuals and reverse cuts made by the Trump administration to the Medicaid health program.
Republicans have repeatedly alleged that Democrats are prolonging the government shutdown in order to provide healthcare to undocumented immigrants—a claim that Democratic leaders refute. They have also indicated a willingness to address healthcare concerns through separate legislation once the government is reopened.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Monday, President Trump stated that he is currently engaged in negotiations with Democratic leadership regarding potential healthcare provisions.
“We have a negotiation going on right now with the Democrats that could lead to very good things. And I’m talking about good things with regard to healthcare,” he said.
However, Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s Democratic leader, refuted this claim on X, writing, “THIS ISN’T TRUE.”
Since the shutdown began last Wednesday, the White House has warned that permanent firings of federal employees were becoming “imminent.”
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated this on Monday, stating that the Office of Management and Budget was already collaborating with agencies that may be forced to implement layoffs.
“We don’t want to see people laid off. But unfortunately, if this shutdown continues, layoffs are going to be an unfortunate consequence of that,” she said.
Leavitt also urged Democratic lawmakers to reconsider their position.
“There’s nothing to negotiate. Just reopen the government,” she stated.
In separate interviews on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Republican Speaker Mike Johnson each attributed blame to the opposing party for the ongoing impasse.
Jeffries accused Republicans of “lying” about Democrats’ intentions in the negotiations, “because they’re losing the court of public opinion.”
However, Johnson asserted that Democrats were “not serious” and were negotiating in bad faith.
“They’re doing this to get political cover,” he stated.
Recent polling data from CBS, the BBC’s US news partner, indicates that Americans hold unfavorable views of both parties’ handling of the shutdown, with President Trump and congressional Republicans receiving slightly more blame for the current situation.
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