As we write this, the U.S. government finds itself in a shutdown —so far the longest in our nation’s history. Yet lawmakers from both parties are furiously negotiating in search of a bipartisan exit ramp. Senate Republican leader Mitch Thune is at the head of a bipartisan push to pass legislation funding key areas of the government. At the same time, Democrats are under mounting political pressure to end the annexation stalemate.
The legislation as proposed would only extend federal funding through November 21, making any long-term relief efforts unlikely. Thune’s package is designed to fund essential programs, including food aid and veterans’ initiatives, as well as the legislative branch. The House proposal would extend appropriations for other parts of the federal government, including Transportation and Housing, through December (or January). This extension may likely produce more space for negotiations.
For all these efforts, GOP leaders have recently been trying and failing to find the votes they need to move their agenda across the finish line. For weeks now, they have been five votes short of the 60 needed to pass any sort of legislation through their chamber. This lack of consensus has been layered over new and broader debates about the shutdown’s effects in all sectors, not just education.
The pressure is building on Washington. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer noted that President Donald Trump has been given a similar short leash to end the shutdown. This is notable given that Trump himself said that the six-week stalemate hurt Republicans in the last two special elections. He warned about the political repercussions of the deepening crisis.
Meanwhile, Republicans are consumed by trying to work through their own party rifts. At the same time, Democrats remain adamant in their request for an extension to health care subsidies nearing expiration in January. Speaker Mike Johnson has categorically ruled out any deal with Democrats to extend these in-subsidies. This position makes any possible way forward even more difficult.
Against this serious and contentious backdrop, a small group of bipartisan negotiators have been meeting quietly for weeks. They’re both saying that they are making significant progress towards an agreement. Without knowing the details of what Thune is proposing, many are unsure what their own compromises would be on or the table. Test vote As early as Friday, we could see the first test vote, which will likely give us a better idea of where these negotiations are heading.
Beyond the political theater, the shutdown has started a dangerous and deepening crisis that threatens millions of Americans. Airports are seeing longer delays due to a lack of federal employees and resources. In the meantime, food assistance is paralyzed for those who need it, and thousands of federal employees are facing unpaid furloughs. Unions and other allied groups are ramping up their pressure to produce action. They call on Democrats to make bold moves to fix the crisis.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) emphasized the importance of addressing health care subsidies. Perhaps most importantly, Speaker McCarthy made clear that any vote on this issue “has got to mean something.” This sentiment reflects a more fundamental fear harbored by Democrats. They can’t afford to give ground on the big issues that will affect their voters.
As congressional negotiators continue to fight over these heady issues, the future of the shutdown is very much in doubt. These next few days will be crucial. Time will tell if they can show that with true bipartisan cooperation a compromise can be reached to please both sides while addressing the pressing issues of ordinary Americans ensnared in this long-standing impasse.
