With the federal government shutdown entering its 29th day, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has remained steadfast in his opposition to piecemeal funding proposals, insisting that the best path forward is to fully reopen the government. While a small faction of Republicans, including Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Sens. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, have advocated for legislation that would pay federal workers and fund key programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), these measures have faced resistance from Senate Democrats. Thune emphasized that allowing partial funding would only prolong the shutdown, stating, ‘The quickest way to end it is to just open everything up and then everybody gets paid.’
Despite the growing frustration over the shutdown’s impact, a handful of lawmakers have pushed for targeted funding bills, dubbed ‘rifle-shots’ by Republicans, to address immediate needs. Sen. Ron Johnson’s bill, which sought to fund essential programs and pay federal workers, gained floor consideration but was blocked by Senate Democrats. In a recent development, Sen. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz introduced a bill aimed at funding air traffic controllers, with both expressing hope that it would be debated on the Senate floor. However, their efforts have been met with skepticism from their fellow Republicans, including Thune, who has consistently argued that any incremental funding approach would only delay the inevitable resolution.
Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have repeatedly blocked GOP initiatives, with Schumer accusing Thune of ‘going along in this heartless, cruel thing.’ While some Democrats, including Amy Klobuchar, have expressed willingness to support rifle-shot funding bills—particularly for SNAP—there is little indication that the Senate will break its deadlock. Schumer has maintained that if Thune were to put such a bill on the floor, it would pass overwhelmingly, but Thune has shown little interest in compromising. This standoff has deepened the uncertainty for millions of Americans who rely on federal benefits, with fears that the shutdown could lead to a cutoff of essential services.
As the situation continues to escalate, the political stakes have grown, with both parties vying for control over the narrative and the outcome of the shutdown. While some Republicans argue that targeted funding is the only viable option, Democrats insist that fully reopening the government is the only way to resolve the crisis. The absence of a clear resolution highlights the deepening divide within the Senate and the potential long-term economic and social consequences of the ongoing impasse.