US government shutdown festers into third week after ninth failed Senate vote | US federal government shutdown 2025

The government shutdown entered its third week Wednesday after lawmakers failed to advance legislation that would restore funding, with Republicans and Democrats still at odds over spending priorities and health care provisions.

The failed ninth Senate vote came as the parties met separately at the Capitol to accuse each other of inflexibility; Military families and federal workers more broadly face the possibility of a hit in their paychecks through the end of the month.

Before the afternoon Senate vote, House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries gathered his Democratic colleagues outside the Capitol to condemn Republicans for leaving Washington.

“House Republicans shut down the government, then fled town,” Jeffries said, adding that his party was “ready, willing and able to negotiate a bipartisan spending deal.”

Democrats are pushing for an extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits, warning that failure to act could lead to significantly higher health premiums for tens of millions of Americans. “It’s time to ensure every American can see a doctor when they need to,” Jeffries said.

Republican speaker Mike Johnson responded by warning that 1.3 million active-duty service members risk not receiving their full benefits by the end of October if the impasse continues despite the temporary measures the Trump administration announced Wednesday.

“If Democrats continue to vote to keep the government shut down, as they have done so many times already, then we know that U.S. soldiers risk missing out on an entire paycheck,” Johnson told reporters, describing the administration’s current military pay regulations as a “temporary fix.”

The shutdown left federal workers without pay and suspended numerous government services; There is no clear solution in sight as both sides hold their positions.

Donald Trump has taken steps to soften the impact of the shutdown in areas most important to his base by finding ways to keep military paychecks and benefit programs running. But the White House budget office announced Tuesday that the administration has embarked on a long fight and is preparing to “shut the floodgates.”

The administration is drawing money from the massive tax and immigration bill Trump passed in July to maintain some operations and using those funds to pay Coast Guard members, but the national guard continues to patrol Democratic-led cities.

Although Trump has already laid off more than 4,000 government workers, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction Wednesday blocking the layoffs. But more disruptions are expected. Russ Vought, executive office and budget director, said Wednesday that the 4,000 laid-off workers were just a “snapshot” and that the numbers could rise “north of 10,000.”

Senate majority leader John Thune acknowledged that discussions on an exit strategy are ongoing but expressed pessimism about Democratic cooperation. Thune said Democrats are “continuing to dig in,” citing the No to Kings protests taking place across the country this weekend as evidence of their resolve.

Thune said Republicans want to package a few spending bills with the defense secretary vote on Thursday, but Democrats need to agree to that, too.

“Shutdowns are not good for anyone, and the sooner we end this, the better,” Thune said. He declined to predict when the government might reopen.