Senate Deadlock Over Funding Threatens Government Shutdown

A rare Saturday session of the U.S. Senate ended without votes or publicly released legislation, highlighting the deepening impasse over federal funding that risks extending the government shutdown. With key agencies set to lose funding in days, lawmakers remained deadlocked as efforts to resolve the crisis stalled.

Senators reconvened Saturday amid the 39-day funding lapse but left the Capitol with no progress. A planned three-bill “minibus” to fund military construction, agriculture, and the legislative branch for fiscal 2026 was not made public. Republican leadership delayed voting, citing ongoing negotiations. Sources indicated senators might meet Sunday to consider a House-approved stopgap spending bill.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., acknowledged the urgency, stating, “We’re getting close to having it ready,” but emphasized that legislative text must be finalized before votes could proceed. Meanwhile, Democrats proposed an alternative plan including a one-year extension of healthcare tax credits and a clean continuing resolution, which Republicans rejected as favoring insurers over individuals.

President Donald Trump criticized the Democratic approach on social media, demanding funds be redirected to taxpayers instead of “fat cat” insurance companies. On the Senate floor, GOP lawmakers questioned the details of the Democratic proposal, with Senator Bernie Moreno pressing Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for specifics on income caps.

Republican leaders signaled a focus on extending short-term funding until January 30, though no resolution was imminent. Thune reiterated that healthcare subsidies would require restored government funding before any decisions could be made.