The GOP expected Democrats to relent on the shutdown by now. That isn't happening. [View all]

Source: NBC News

Oct. 24, 2025, 5:00 AM EDT


WASHINGTON — For the 12th time, Senate Democrats blocked the Republican Party's government funding legislation this week without a single senator switching his or her vote. Just three Democratic caucus members voted for the bill: John Fetterman, D-Pa.; Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; and Angus King, I-Maine. That means Republicans are still five votes short of the 60-vote threshold to ensure passage of the bill, just as they have been since before the government shut down 23 days ago.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told NBC News he’s taken aback by some of the Democratic posturing and rhetoric. “I’m surprised at how open they’ve been about it,” Thune said in an interview Thursday. “That statement yesterday by that House member that they know the American people are going to suffer but this is their leverage? This isn’t about leverage. This isn’t a political game. It’s about people’s lives.”

He was referring to House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., who said in a recent Fox News interview: “Shutdowns are terrible. Of course, there will be families that are going to suffer. We take that responsibility very seriously. But it is one of the few leverage times we have — it is an inflection point in this budget process where we have tried to get the Republicans to meet with us and prioritize the American people.”

Democrats have used that “leverage” to push Republicans to extend Obamacare subsidies that will expire at the end of the year. Failing to do so would lead to increased health care costs for millions of people. Republicans say Democrats must first reopen the government, but, so far, the party hasn’t budged. The Democratic Party’s hardened resolve in the shutdown battle seems to have left the Republican majority without answers.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republicans-expected-democrats-cave-shutdown-not-happening-rcna239457