Plan to end U.S. government shutdown fails for the eighth time

Congress remains stuck in a prolonged stalemate over reopening the federal government. On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate once again rejected a Republican measure aimed at ending the government shutdown, which began two weeks ago.

The Senate’s eighth vote to advance the GOP bill — which would have funded government operations through November 21 — failed with 49 votes in favor and 45 against, falling short of the 60 votes required to move forward. No senators changed their votes from the previous attempt, underscoring the lack of progress in breaking the impasse.

The Trump administration last week began furloughing federal employees across several agencies, as both Democrats and Republicans continued to blame each other for the ongoing shutdown.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, in a floor speech, sharply criticized the Trump administration’s decision to approve a massive financial aid package for Argentina amid the shutdown that has shuttered federal agencies and forced workers across the country into unpaid leave.

Calling the move “a slap in the face to American families,” Schumer said:

“If this administration has $20 billion for a foreign government that supports ‘MAGA,’ it cannot tell us it lacks the money to lower health care costs here at home.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune accused Democrats of “holding the government hostage” over their demands to extend subsidies for affordable health care. If those subsidies expire, millions of Americans could see steep increases in their health insurance premiums.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, defended President Donald Trump’s decision to reallocate Pentagon funds to ensure that military personnel continue receiving pay as the shutdown entered its 14th day. He said he would not negotiate with Senate Democrats.

Accusing Democrats of “playing games” with Republicans, Johnson declared: “I have nothing to negotiate.”