The Senate on Wednesday again rejected competing funding proposals from Republicans and Democrats to end the government shutdown, which continues into its eighth day and shows no signs of progress toward a resolution.
The Senate voted 54-45 not to advance the Republican-led stopgap bill that would fund the government until the end of November. A replacement funding bill supported by Democrats also failed 47-52 in a vote around 12:50 p.m. ET.
The same three senators from the Democratic caucus who voted with Republicans in the previous vote, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, and one of the caucus’ two independents, Angus King of Maine, did so again Wednesday.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) once again joined Democrats in voting against the Republican bill. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) did not vote.
Competing stopgap bills have already failed in the past five votes.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks next to Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on the third day of the partial government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol on October 3, 2025 in Washington, DC, USA.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
Leaders of both parties have blamed each other for the government shutdown that began on October 1st.
Republicans, who hold slim majorities in both houses of Congress, want short-term measures to resume funding the U.S. government at current levels until Nov. 21.
Democrats want any such bill to include health care protections, particularly an enhanced extension of Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year.
“Republicans are shutting down the government because they refuse to solve and address America’s health care crisis,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said before the vote began.
As reported by Punchbowl News, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine has hinted at possible workarounds to the shutdown, including a Republican commitment to a deal related to enhanced Obamacare tax credits.
But her proposal to discuss extending the ACA after the government reopens did not sway any Democratic lawmakers Wednesday.
Republicans currently need about eight votes from senators in the Democratic caucus to pass a short-term funding measure to overcome the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster rule.
President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans have largely refused to negotiate with Democrats, saying they are holding the government hostage.
Democrats’ funding proposal “will not pass here, it will not pass the House, it will not get signed by the president,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said after Schumer on the floor.
The White House also warned that federal workers would be laid off and threatened to deny back pay to furloughed employees if the government shutdown lasts longer.
But House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said Wednesday he agrees that federal law requires furloughed workers to be paid when they return to work.
This is developing news. Please check back for the latest information.
—CNBC’s Lillian Rizzo contributed to this report.
