U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said bipartisan negotiations to end the federal government shutdown showed a hopeful shift on Saturday as lawmakers worked to reopen portions of the government and advance three full-year funding measures. The remarks came on the 39th day of the shutdown on Capitol Hill, amid mounting pressure from sidelined federal workers and disrupted services. Senators reported progress on separate fiscal 2026 appropriations for agriculture and nutrition programs, military construction and veterans accounts, and money to run Congress through Sept. 30, 2026. Leaders were also negotiating a short-term stopgap that would keep the government operating past the current Nov. 21 deadline while talks continue on remaining agencies.
Key Takeaways
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune described recent bipartisan talks as “promising,” coming on the 39th day of the shutdown.
- Senators were preparing three full-year fiscal 2026 bills covering agriculture/food programs, military construction and veterans, and congressional operations through Sept. 30, 2026.
- A stopgap funding measure currently set to expire Nov. 21 is being negotiated to extend coverage into late January, according to Republican senators.
- At least eight Senate Democrats are likely needed to break the impasse; Republicans have not agreed to negotiate ACA subsidy extensions until the shutdown ends.
- Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer accused the administration of withholding SNAP funds and criticized operational decisions on airline routes as political moves.
- The shutdown has already disrupted services: roughly 10,000 children lost Head Start access in 18 states plus Puerto Rico after grants froze when funding lapsed.
Background
The shutdown began when annual appropriations expired on Oct. 1, halting funding for many discretionary programs and triggering the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Federal paychecks and routine agency operations were disrupted, prompting congressional negotiations to either pass full-year appropriations or temporary continuing resolutions. Prior rounds of talks had repeatedly faltered, with partisan disagreements over policy riders and funding priorities preventing a unified approach.
As the stalemate extended beyond a month, political stakes rose in Washington: public-sector employees faced continued furloughs or unpaid work, nutrition and early childhood programs experienced interruptions, and travel and park services were disrupted. Lawmakers on both sides faced pressure from constituents and interest groups to restore funding quickly while protecting priorities such as health insurance subsidies for Affordable Care Act enrollees.
Main Event
Late in the week, Republican and Democratic senators appeared to engage in more earnest negotiations, with leaders drafting three full-year fiscal 2026 measures. Those proposals would fund agriculture, food and nutrition programs, military construction and veterans’ services, and congressional operations through the federal fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2026. Supporters argued segmenting bills could produce early wins and reduce the number of outstanding funding gaps.
Concurrently, senators were crafting a short-term continuing resolution to bridge funding for agencies not covered by the three bills. Republican senators indicated the stopgap, presently set to lapse on Nov. 21, would be revised under new legislation to extend funding into late January, giving negotiators more time to finalize the remaining nine discretionary spending bills including homeland security, defense, housing and health.
Thune signaled optimism about advancing votes, saying it “would be great” to hold roll calls if members could finalize their positions, but he declined to set a firm timetable. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer counterpunched on the floor, criticizing the administration for failing to release SNAP benefits and accusing it of playing politics with airline operations at certain airports.
President Donald Trump added to the debate by urging senators to redirect federal subsidies for ACA insurance marketplaces into direct payments to individuals, posting on Truth Social that funds now going to insurers should be sent “directly to the people.” Republican lawmakers are divided on that idea, while Democrats have not broadly embraced the proposal. The Senate had just reconvened after rejecting legislation the prior day that would have resumed pay for hundreds of thousands of federal workers.
Analysis & Implications
Politically, splitting appropriations into narrower, full-year bills can be a pragmatic path forward: it allows members to secure funding for high-profile constituencies and agencies while continuing negotiations on more contentious items. If the three measures win enough support, they could restore critical services for veterans, farmers, and nutrition programs and reduce pressure on some federal employees.
However, relying on piecemeal deals and stopgap funding carries risks. Agencies left out of early packages would remain in limbo, prolonging furloughs and service interruptions for programs tied to homeland security, housing and health. Extending a continuing resolution into late January could postpone a full resolution into the new year, complicating budget planning and potentially shifting blame across election cycles.
Economically, a protracted shutdown amplifies costs—both measurable and intangible. Lost workdays, delayed benefits, and interrupted social services increase near-term hardship for affected families and reduce administrative capacity across the federal government. The longer the impasse endures, the harder it becomes to restore normal operations and staff morale, which could affect program delivery in 2026.
Comparison & Data
| Measure | Current Shutdown | Previous Record (2018-2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Days elapsed | 39 days | 35 days |
| Head Start children affected | ~10,000 in 18 states + Puerto Rico | Not comparable |
| ACA subsidy enrollees affected by debate | ~24 million people rely on marketplace subsidies | NA |
The current shutdown has already exceeded the 35-day 2018–2019 closure, making it the longest on record at 39 days. That milestone reframes negotiations: lawmakers face heightened scrutiny from constituents and watchdog groups, and the data on program disruptions—such as the roughly 10,000 Head Start slots affected—underscore real-world impacts beyond Capitol Hill rhetoric.
Reactions & Quotes
“Yeah. I’d say so.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD)
Thune used a short response to characterize recent bipartisan conversations as positive while declining to promise immediate votes. His comment came amid efforts to finalize text for the full-year bills and a stopgap measure.
“They stormed out of the gate,”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer
Schumer criticized Republican tactics on the Senate floor, accusing the administration of politicizing SNAP funding and airline route adjustments while urging protections for vulnerable beneficiaries and federal workers.
“BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE THEIR OWN…”
Former President Donald Trump (Truth Social)
Trump proposed redirecting ACA marketplace subsidies into direct payments to individuals; he offered no detailed implementation plan, and lawmakers were divided on the concept.
Unconfirmed
- The exact list of Democrats who would support the three-bill package is not yet public and remains subject to negotiation.
- The proposal to redirect ACA marketplace subsidies into direct payments lacks legislative text and clear implementation details.
- Timelines for votes on the proposed measures remain tentative; lawmakers have not committed to a specific schedule beyond saying they will “see how the day goes.”
Bottom Line
Senate negotiators reported tangible progress on segmented fiscal 2026 bills and a short-term CR that could extend funding into late January, offering a realistic path to end at least parts of the shutdown in the near term. Those steps would restore operations for targeted programs and reduce pressure on affected federal workers and beneficiaries if enacted.
But key obstacles remain: persuading enough Democrats to back any package, resolving disputes over ACA subsidies and SNAP funding, and finalizing text acceptable to both parties. The coming days will test whether incremental, bipartisan deals can produce durable relief or merely postpone another funding crisis.
Sources
- CNBC — News reporting on Senate negotiations and statements (media).
- First Five Years Fund — Advocacy group citing Head Start disruptions and enrollment impacts (advocacy).
- Reuters — Photo and wire reporting credited for coverage (news agency).