Rare Saturday Senate session ends with few signs of shutdown progress

Source: The Hill

11/08/25 4:41 PM ET


Senators ended a rare Saturday session at the Capitol with no votes, no text of a three-bill “minibus” and few signs of progress toward a possible shutdown offramp. Lawmakers are now eyeing a possible vote on Sunday, when senators will gather again to try to find a solution to the 39-day funding impasse.

Senate GOP leaders decided against holding a vote late Saturday afternoon as negotiators push forward in a bid to wrap up a deal on the three-bill “minibus” to fund Military Construction, Agriculture and the Legislative branch for all of fiscal year 2026. According to two GOP sources, Republican senators are expected to huddle over lunch on Sunday and potentially vote once again on the House-passed stopgap spending bill.

The development came hours after Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters that the upper chamber will remain in session until the shutdown impasse is broken.

“The question is whether we can have everything ready to go,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said on Saturday around lunchtime, noting that he’s been in discussions with appropriators about minibus text. “We’re getting close to having it ready.” “[T]ext has to get out and then we’ve got to hope we have the necessary votes,” he said.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5596958-senate-saturday-session-government-shutdown/