The U.S. government shutdown has extended into next week, with no clear resolution in sight as congressional leaders grapple with stalled negotiations. With President Donald Trump now away on an Asia trip, the absence of leadership has slowed the progress toward finding a resolution. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has introduced a series of bills, including those related to troop pay and essential worker funding, in an attempt to press Democrats for a compromise. Meanwhile, some Republican leaders are considering extending the deadline for a new Continuing Resolution (CR) into early 2025, though others are pushing for a longer-term solution through December of next year.
Despite the challenges, there are signs of some bipartisan efforts to find a resolution. Senators Rand Paul and Gary Peters have hosted a bipartisan lunch, while Jeanne Shaheen and Mike Rounds are preparing to attend a meeting aimed at finding an off-ramp from the shutdown. However, the road to a resolution remains unclear, with the pressure building on both sides of the aisle.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has issued new sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine. While the top Democrat on a bipartisan effort to punish Russia praised the measures, he argued they don’t go far enough. The bipartisan effort to impose further sanctions on countries like China, India, and Brazil is still in the works, but has not yet gained enough support from Trump.