Overview

• The Senate held a fifth round of failed votes, with a Republican 'clean' stopgap falling 52–42 and a Democratic alternative failing 45–50, leaving both short of the 60 votes needed to advance.
• President Donald Trump said he was open to a healthcare deal earlier Monday before later insisting the government must reopen first, as the White House warned federal workers could miss their next paycheck and raised the prospect of layoffs if the shutdown persists.
• The Office of Management and Budget has paused or canceled funding for projects in several states, while officials caution that the WIC nutrition program is running low on funds.
• House Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the House out of session and says health policy talks should occur after passage of a short-term funding bill, while Democratic leaders deny active talks with the White House and remain largely unified, with only three senators backing the GOP bill and Sen. Rand Paul opposing both measures.
• Enhanced ACA subsidies are set to expire at year’s end, with Democrats warning of premium spikes as insurers prepare open enrollment starting Nov. 1 and exchange enrollees report receiving notices of higher 2026 costs if subsidies lapse.