Overview
- The lapse in funding continued Saturday after Senate Democrats for the fourth time voted down the House’s seven‑week “clean” continuing resolution to keep agencies open.
- House Republican leaders canceled next week’s votes and sent members home to emphasize a district‑level pressure campaign aimed at forcing Senate action.
- Democrats are demanding an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and reversals of recent Medicaid cuts, while Republicans say health policy talks can resume only once the government is reopened.
- Operational strain is mounting as federal workers and many service members face delayed pay, TSA employees work without pay, national parks scale back services, and loan processing, permitting and economic data releases are postponed.
- The messaging war intensified with new DCCC ads blaming Republicans, GOP claims about benefits for noncitizens disputed by Democratic leaders and fact‑checkers, and the administration freezing certain project funds in multiple states to increase pressure.