Overview
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he is optimistic about progress and is exploring a longer continuing resolution, likely stretching into December or January, to allow time for full-year spending bills.
- Democrats continue to condition votes to reopen the government on extending expiring Affordable Care Act premium subsidies, with the caucus split and only three Democratic-aligned senators so far backing GOP efforts to advance funding.
- Moderates are negotiating possible off-ramps, including a House centrist framework to extend the expanded ACA tax credits for two years with new caps, as Senate appropriators exchange draft language.
- After court orders, the administration plans to use contingency funds to provide roughly 50% of November SNAP benefits, even as travel delays, unpaid federal workers, and other service disruptions mount.
- President Donald Trump maintains he will not negotiate before the government reopens and has renewed calls to end the Senate filibuster, a step GOP senators resist as Republicans still need additional Democratic votes to reach the 60-vote threshold.