Overview
- Lawmakers return Monday with debate at 3 p.m. ET and an expected 5:30 p.m. ET vote, the 11th attempt to advance the House-passed stopgap that has repeatedly fallen short of the Senate’s 60-vote threshold.
- Republicans push a clean continuing resolution as Democrats hold out for permanent ACA subsidy extensions and reversal of Medicaid cuts, while Majority Leader John Thune has floated a one-year vote that Democrats view as insufficient.
- Operational fallout is widening, with the National Nuclear Security Administration beginning to furlough roughly 1,400 staff, the Army Corps pausing more than $11 billion in projects, and over 700,000 federal workers affected by furloughs or unpaid work.
- Political pressure is shifting as House leaders keep the chamber in recess, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene urges a return to session, Democrats accuse the White House and GOP of going quiet, and a separate Senate vote to pay excepted workers is being eyed.
- Health stakes are rising before Nov. 1 open enrollment, with KFF estimating average annual premiums would more than double without the enhanced credits and the CBO projecting millions could lose coverage, including heavy local impacts such as on Long Island.