US government shutdown enters third day, expected to last past weekend
Key Takeaways
- The US government shutdown has entered its third day due to the Senate failing to pass a spending bill before observing Yom Kippur.
- A weekend resolution appears unlikely, with the shutdown expected to continue into the next week as bipartisan support remains elusive.
- The House of Representatives is working on a new spending bill to present to the Senate next week.
- Former President Trump is threatening permanent federal workforce cuts instead of traditional furloughs, with the White House confirming thousands of cuts are likely.
- Democrats are attempting to use the spending negotiations to secure concessions on healthcare issues, such as Affordable Care Act subsidies.
The US government shutdown has persisted into its third day after the Senate was unable to pass a necessary spending bill, a delay exacerbated by the observance of Yom Kippur on Thursday. Hopes for a quick resolution are dim, as Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggested a weekend vote is unlikely, meaning the impasse will likely continue into the next week. Both Republican and Democratic spending proposals have failed to secure the required 60 votes, as senators largely adhere to party lines, though a few moderates previously supported a Republican deal fearing shutdown harm. Speaker Mike Johnson stated the House is working on a new bill to present to the Senate next week, expressing eagerness to resume work. Adding to the tension, former President Trump has threatened to slash the federal workforce permanently rather than furloughing staff, a move supported by White House comments suggesting thousands of cuts are probable, following the freezing of $26 billion in programs in Democratic states. Democrats are leveraging the spending negotiations to push for concessions on healthcare, including ACA subsidies and reversing Medicaid cuts, while economic forecasts predict a $7 billion cost to the US economy for every week the shutdown continues.
