Washington (TDI): The US government shutdown showed no sign of ending Thursday as senators again rejected a Republican funding plan, leaving the nation braced for a third week of furloughed workers and interrupted public services despite pressure from President Donald Trump.
Federal agencies have been without funding since October 1, and negotiations between Republicans and Democrats have repeatedly collapsed, producing a string of failed votes aimed at reopening the government. With no breakthrough, the Senate adjourned until next Tuesday, pausing any further votes in the near term.
At a Cabinet meeting, President Trump renewed his threats to cut popular federal programs to squeeze Democratic opposition. “The Democrat shutdown is causing pain and suffering for hardworking Americans, including our military, our air traffic controllers and impoverished mothers,” he said, decrying the political stalemate.
Republicans offered a short-term funding bill that would reopen government through late November while talks continue, but Democrats have so far rejected the proposal. According to US media, Democratic leaders are privately preparing for a protracted shutdown lasting several weeks unless Republicans accept demands to extend health-care subsidies set to expire on December 31.
Read More: US Senate Fails to End Shutdown
Roughly 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed, placed on unpaid leave, and both parties have warned that military personnel could miss paychecks as early as next Wednesday. A bipartisan House measure that would guarantee pay for about 1.3 million active-duty service members has attracted nearly 150 co-sponsors, but Republican leaders have resisted bringing it to the floor, arguing that troop pay will be secured if Democrats simply vote to end the shutdown.
“The President has made it clear, we must pay our troops,” Representative Jen Kiggans, the bill’s author, wrote on X.
Democrats, buoyed by polls that place blame for the shutdown largely on Republicans, say public opinion is swinging in their favor and are using the leverage to press for policy concessions.
Read More: US House Passes Bill to Prevent Shutdown
Trump framed his approach as “maximum pain” pressure on Democrats, warning he would target programs popular with the party. “We’ll be cutting some very popular Democrat programs… because that’s the way it works,” he said, saying the cuts would serve as a wake-up call for Democrats.
