The White House is embracing the fight over the first government shutdown since 2019, viewing it as a political loser for Democrats and an opening to unilaterally advance its own policy interests.
President Trump and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought have signaled they plan to use the shutdown to further slash the federal workforce and potentially pare back government programs and benefits.
While some polling has shown many Americans wi...
Month: October 2025
Washington Post editorial board warns Democrats walking into ‘shutdown trap’
The editorial board of The Washington Post is warning that progressive Democrats are leading the party into a “shutdown trap.”
In an op-ed published Wednesday morning, the board noted that Democrats "shut off any potential escape valve to avoid a shutdown" when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), facing a left-wing revolt, apparently backed off a potential plan to buy more time for negotiations.
“In doing so, progressives embraced the same disastrous me...
Maine Democrat blames ‘far-left’ for government shutdown
Democratic Rep. Jared Golden (Maine) criticized “far-left groups” for demanding Democrats vote against a Republican-backed proposal to fund the government.
“This government shutdown is the result of hardball politics driven by the demands far-left groups are making for Democratic Party leaders to put on a show of their opposition to President Trump,” Golden said in a Wednesday statement.
Golden was the lone Democrat to vote for the GOP funding bill, which passed ...
Why is there a government shutdown?
(NEXSTAR) – Lawmakers failed to reach an agreement to fund the federal government by midnight on Tuesday night, triggering a shutdown on Wednesday. At the heart of the deadlock are health insurance subsidies.
Here's what to know about the key sticking points in the budget negotiations.
What are the tax credits lawmakers disagree on?At issue are tax credits that have made health insurance more affordable for millions of people since the COVID-19 ...
Rank-and-file senators in both parties seek breakthrough on shutdown
Senate centrists in both parties are trying to put together a deal to reopen the federal government.
A group of them huddled on the Senate floor Wednesday afternoon, after Democrats voted for the second time in two days to block a House-passed stopgap funding measure.
Three members of the Democratic caucus voted for the House-passed continuing resolution, but five more Democrats would need to support it to reopen the federal government.
Senate Republican...
Vance: Schumer ‘terrified’ of primary challenge from Ocasio-Cortez
Vice President Vance on Wednesday argued Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) actions around a government shutdown were influenced by concern that he could face a primary challenge from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y).
Vance addressed reporters from the White House briefing room on the first day of a government shutdown spurred by a clash between Senate Democrats and their Republican counterparts over demands on health care funding.
"The reason wh...
Federal layoffs day or two away, budget director tells Republicans on shutdown call
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought told House Republicans in a Wednesday call that layoffs of federal workers will be coming in a day or two, according to sources on the call.
The call came on day one of a government shutdown as Democrats in Congress have rejected a short-term Republican funding plan and are making demands like extending enhanced ObamaCare tax credits. Democrats had forced Vought’s hand, one source said.
Vought hinted at...
Trump’s shutdown circus will backfire with voters
There’s a sad irony in watching the federal government come to a grinding halt — not because of some unresolvable crisis, but because our politics have turned into a circus. Earlier this month, a shutdown wasn’t inevitable. But President Trump practically locked the door and threw away the key Monday night when he shared an AI deepfake video mocking his main negotiating partners: Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Schumer calls Johnson ‘the real bad guy’ in shutdown
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blamed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday for the government shutdown but added that he needs to be part of any negotiations to continue funding the government.
"The American people know the Republicans have the presidency, they have the Senate, they have the House, and the blame will be on them," Schumer told MSNBC host Joe Scarborough on "Morning Joe."
"They will have to negotiate with us," he added.
...
Senate defeats House-passed bill to reopen government, despite Democratic cracks
Senate Democrats voted Wednesday to block a House-passed stopgap funding bill that would reopen the federal government until Nov. 21, but several Democrats broke with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and supported the measure.
Wednesday’s vote marked the third time in two weeks that the House-passed continuing resolution failed to advance on the Senate floor — but it was the first time senators voted on the issue while the government is closed. The measure need...