Government shutdown: Answers to questions about ongoing stalemate
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer both appeared on the Sunday talk shows to discuss the ongoing government shutdown. Credit: AP/Alex Brandon
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate will reconvene Monday afternoon — on the sixth day of the federal government shutdown — as leaders from both sides of the aisle appeared no closer to reaching a deal over the weekend to reopen the government.
Congressional Republicans are pushing Democrats to pass a short-term spending bill that will fund the government through Nov. 21, but Democrats are seeking concessions in exchange for their support, namely in the form of an extension to pandemic-era health care subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.
On the Sunday political talk show circuit, leaders from both parties continued to blame the other side for the stalemate that has forced dozens of government agencies to furlough federal employees.
"It’s going to get uncomfortable, and nobody likes where we are, but the truth is they just have left no alternative," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), referring to Senate Democrats during an appearance on Fox News’ "Sunday Morning Futures."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), appearing on CBS’ "Face the Nation," said congressional Democrats have sought a compromise on the health care subsidies for months, and he blamed Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, for not engaging in discussions.
"We've been trying for months and months to sit down with them and have a serious conversation addressing America's health care needs, and they've refused and refused and refused," Schumer said.
As the shutdown enters a new week, here’s a look at what’s ahead.
Where do negotiations stand in the Senate?
Thune has scheduled a Monday afternoon vote on the same short-term spending bill that has twice failed to pass the chamber’s 60-vote threshold.
Three Senate Democrats have already agreed to support the bill, but Thune, facing a defection from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has long argued against short-term spending bills, needs at least five additional Democratic votes for the bill to pass.
Thune told Fox News he believed there were some Democrats who "want to find an off-ramp here and are talking to Republicans."
Asked about the discussions, Schumer told CBS News he encouraged Senate Democrats to talk with their Republican counterparts, but "the only way" out of the current impasse "is if five people sit together in a room and solve it," referring to himself, Thune, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and President Donald Trump.
Where do negotiations stand in the U.S. House?
The U.S. House remains out of session, with Johnson telling reporters Friday he will reconvene the chamber when Schumer and Democrats agree to the current short-term spending bill on the table.
Johnson (R-La.), making the rounds of the Sunday talk shows, told MSNBC he was not opposed to debating the merits of Democrats’ push to extend the soon-to-expire Affordable Care Act subsidies, but he believed passing a funding bill should be the priority.
"What I'm saying is, we have to keep the lights on in the buildings so that we can have those discussions and debates," Johnson told MSNBC.
Jeffries (D-Brooklyn), appearing on NBC’s "Meet the Press," defended Democrats’ approach, saying if the subsidies are allowed to expire, they will likely drive up health care costs for millions of Americans.
"There, of course, is an urgent need to address the Affordable Care Act and the Republicans' refusal to extend these tax credits," Jeffries said. "What we're talking about here is a dramatic impact on real, everyday Americans."
Jeffries has scheduled a virtual meeting via Zoom of House Democrats for 6 p.m. Monday. In a “Dear Colleague” letter over the weekend to rank-and-file House Democrats, Jeffries said he and other caucus leaders will maintain a “robust” presence in Washington this week; he also noted members will receive 48-hour notice in advance of any votes that would require travel to Washington.
Will the White House announce layoffs?
White House officials last week repeatedly raised the prospect of moving forward with "thousands" of federal worker layoffs should the shutdown drag on but have offered few details about a timeline.
Congressional Democrats have accused Trump of threatening layoffs as a tool to pressure Democrats to agree to his short-term spending package.
Asked by reporters at the White House on Sunday about the potential layoffs, Trump did not offer any details, but placed blame on Democrats for any workforce cuts his administration implements.
"It’s up to them," Trump said.
Newsday's Billy House contributed to this story.
Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.
Sarra Sounds Off: Soccer scene and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Jolie Katzen and Michael Sicoli recap the girls and boys soccer scene, and Jared Valluzzi has a look at the plays of the week.
Sarra Sounds Off: Soccer scene and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Jolie Katzen and Michael Sicoli recap the girls and boys soccer scene, and Jared Valluzzi has a look at the plays of the week.
