WASHINGTON (AP) — election This week has both emboldened and angered Democrats. President Donald Trump It put a damper on efforts to end the record-breaking situation. government shutdowndespite the punitive cost of a federal government shutdown on the country, new questions have arisen about the possibility of a breakthrough.
President Trump is ramping up pressure on Senate Republicans to end the government shutdown – now at 37 days, the nation’s longest. american history — said that this is a “big factor, a negative factor” in the Republican Party’s low approval ratings across the country. Democrats saw Mr. Trump’s comments as reason to take a firm stand, believing that his involvement in the talks could lead to an agreement to extend health care subsidies, a key to gaining support.
President Trump has refused to meet with Democrats, saying they need to open up the government first. But complicating the Republican strategy is that President Trump has become increasingly obsessed with encouraging Republicans to repeal the bill. senate filibuster Expedite reopening — a measure many Republican senators quickly vetoed. He continued the pressure in a video Wednesday night, saying the Senate’s 60-vote threshold for passing the bill should be “suspended.”
“This is much bigger than a government shutdown,” President Trump said. “This is the fate of our country.”
Senate Democrats are facing pressure from both labor unions who want to end the government shutdown and allied groups who want to keep the government intact. Many see decisive Democratic gubernatorial victories in Virginia and New Jersey as vindication of the Democratic Party’s strategy of keeping the government shut down until expiry. medical subsidy It is being addressed.
“It would be very strange for the American people to support Democrats who stand up and fight for them, and then surrender within days without accomplishing anything we’ve been fighting for,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
Meanwhile, negotiations are stalling, but the toll of the government shutdown continues. deepen. On Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced plans Air traffic will be reduced by 10% in 40 mass markets starting Friday morning to maintain safety amid staffing shortages. Millions of people have already been affected by government program suspensions and federal payroll delays, and many more are expected to be affected as the next payday approaches next week.
Progressives see election victory as a reason to fight
Grassroots Democratic groups across the country touted Tuesday’s election results as voters approving the government shutdown strategy and warned lawmakers against striking a deal too soon.
“Moderate Senate Democrats who are looking for a break right now are completely missing the moment,” said Katie Bethel, political director of the progressive group MoveOn. “Voters are sending a resonant message: They want leaders who will fight for us and they want solutions that make life more affordable.”
Some Senate Democrats took a similar view. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a leading voice in the progressive movement, said Democrats “must stay strong” and secure guarantees on extending health care benefits, including “a commitment from the Speaker of the House to support the bill and for the president to sign it.”
Still, it remains to be seen how strong the party remains. Some Democrats have been working with Republicans to find a way out of the conflict, and remained adamant after the election that the conflict did not affect their approach.
“I don’t feel like the election has changed my position,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado. “We still want to get out of the shutdown.”
Some Republicans echoed Trump’s concerns that the government shutdown is holding the party back.
“Polls show that most voters blame Republicans more than Democrats,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri. “That makes sense, given who controls the levers of power.”
President Trump sets new shutdown record
Some Democrats saw Trump’s comments on Wednesday about the government shutdown as evidence that he would soon become more involved, but he has largely stayed out of the fray. Instead, talks are intensifying among a loose coalition of centrist senators trying to negotiate an end to the government shutdown.
President Trump has refused to negotiate with Democrats for overdue relief. health insurance subsidies Until they agree to reopen the government. But skeptical Democrats question whether the Republican president will keep his word, especially after taking office. Limited SNAP Food Assistance in spite of court order This is to secure funding to prevent hunger.
President Trump’s approach to the government shutdown is in sharp contrast to his first term, when the government was partially shut down for 35 days over requests for construction funds. US-Mexico border wall. At the time, he met publicly and negotiated with Congressional leaders. Unable to secure funding, the project folded in 2019.
This time, President Trump didn’t just refuse to talk. Congressional leaders are at odds; Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republicans sent their lawmakers home after approving their own funding bill in September, refusing to negotiate further.
“It’s a sad landmark,” Johnson said. He rejected his party’s electoral defeat and said he looked forward to the 2026 midterm elections, which are more reflective of Trump’s tenure in office.
Meanwhile, food aid childcare money Countless other government services have been severely disrupted. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees have been furloughed or are expected to report to work without pay.
Senators explore possibility of agreement
At the heart of any resolution is a set of agreements that must be supported not only by the Senate but also by the House and the White House, something that is far from certain in Washington.
Senators from both parties, especially members of the powerful Appropriations Committee, are pushing to ensure that the normal government funding process in Congress gets back on track. Among the goals is ensuring future votes on smaller bills to fund various aspects of government, such as agricultural programs and military construction projects at bases.
Even more difficult is that a significant number of senators want some kind of resolution to the conflict over Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of the year.
Millions of people experience price shock when premium notices are sent out. Many people are expected to lose their livelihoods with the loss of enhanced federal aid introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided in the form of tax credits. Unable to enroll in health insurance.
Mr. Thune has promised to vote on at least the health care measure that Democrats want on a certain date as part of a deal to reopen the government. But that’s not enough for some senators, who see the health care impasse as part of President Trump’s broader concerns about the direction of the country.
