Sen Kennedy sees no quick end to ongoing government shutdown standoff

Ahead of the 15th attempt to reopen the government, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told reporters he did not expect a solution to the 38-day government shutdown to come anytime soon, turning optimistic forecasts of a resolution this week pessimistic.

“I think we’re at least seven days, probably 10, and very likely two weeks away from opening,” Kennedy said.

OPTIMISM DECREASES AS SENATE DEMOCRATS EXTEND OBAMACARE DEMAND

He said he expects Democrats to form a united front against the short-term spending extension on Friday.

“I was told that all of the Democrats who negotiated with us would vote no to move forward with the bill. This is a compromise for their more aggressive Democratic senators. They agreed not to vote for anyone again,” Kennedy said.

Although Kennedy was not directly involved in the negotiations, his comments followed a closed-door discussion with Republican senators on Thursday about the status of the shutdown.

The country entered a government shutdown in early October as Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DY), rejected the Republicans’ short-term government funding bill and demanded that lawmakers first consider ending health care subsidies for Obamacare, which the country implemented as a temporary, emergency response to COVID-19.

AS PRESSURE INCREASED, SENATE DEMOCRATS CAME OUT OF THE RECORD-BREAKING SHUTDOWN.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DY), left, hold a press conference about the GOP compromise bill at the Capitol on June 11, 2025 in Washington. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Republicans quickly rejected these demands, arguing that the subsidies had little to do with government finances. By the way Maintaining subsidies could cost more than $30 billion annually unless modified in some way, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan fiscal policy think tank.

More than a month later, Kennedy said the same issues remained unchanged, even though some senators like Kennedy had signaled a willingness to address subsidies; but this was only possible after the government reopened.

“Republicans will not vote to extend Obamacare subsidies for stock markets without modification,” he said. “We’ll agree to do it with changes, but I know we’re not going to give the Democrats what they want.”

Government Shutdown Enters 3rd Day as Impasse Continues in Senate Over OBAMACARE Subsidies

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., speaks at a Senate Budget Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on February 10, 2021 in Washington. (Anna Moneymaker/AFP)

“The last time I spoke [Democrats]They wanted a vote on Obamacare subsidies and guaranteed passage. “Then we’ll be closed for a long time because it’s not going to happen,” he said.

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The Senate will vote on Republicans’ short-term spending extension on Friday. It’s unclear whether the Senate will remain in Washington, D.C., over the weekend or continue its planned recess for Veterans Day next week.