Democrats Again Vote to Keep Government Closed as They Blame GOP for Government Being Closed [WATCH]

The federal government entered its fourteenth day of the Schumer Shutdown on Wednesday, as Senate Democrats once again voted against a Republican-backed continuing resolution to reopen government operations.

BREAKING: Another failed vote to reopen the government.

Senate votes 49-45 against H.R. 5371, the House-passed continuing resolution.

The shutdown continues… pic.twitter.com/pVPdmhLjkV

— Amber Jo Cooper (@AmberJoCooper) October 14, 2025

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced earlier in the week that it is prepared for the long haul, confirming that reductions in force (RIFs) of federal employees will continue as long as the shutdown persists.

The agency stated it would sustain current measures until Senate Democrats agree to vote for the clean funding bill already passed by the Republican-controlled House.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Democrats for “holding the American people hostage” and blocking efforts to restore funding.

He said Democrats’ demands include billions of dollars in spending on what he described as “Leftist pet causes,” citing projects such as feminist initiatives in Africa, LGBTQ+ agenda items in the Balkans, and global climate programs.

Speaker Johnson lists off INSANE Democrat demands to end the government shutdown:

– $24.6M to “climate resilience” in Honduras
– $13.4M to “civic engagement” in Zimbabwe
– $3.9M to “LGBTQI+ democracy grants” in the Balkans
– $2.9M to “desert locust reduction” in Africa
– $2M to… pic.twitter.com/hpGK9aTjRG

— TheBlaze (@theblaze) October 14, 2025

Republicans argue that the largest obstacle remains Democrats’ push for an additional $1.5 trillion in new spending, including funding to provide illegal aliens with free healthcare.

GOP leaders note that the plan would expand federal health programs at taxpayer expense, adding that the proposal would raise costs for insured Americans nationwide.

Despite their refusal to advance the clean funding bill, Democratic leaders continue to claim Republicans are to blame for the shutdown.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries posted on X, “The American people know that Republicans shut down the government. Democrats want to open it up immediately. And decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis.”

The American people know that Republicans shut down the government.

Democrats want to open it up immediately.

And decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis.

— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) October 14, 2025

Republican leaders have dismissed Jeffries’ statement as misleading, pointing to Democrats’ own healthcare policies as the root cause of rising costs.

They argue that federal mandates and expanded bureaucratic programs enacted under the Affordable Care Act continue to strain the system and inflate prices for consumers.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune also addressed the ongoing impasse on X, emphasizing that Republicans are not attaching any partisan provisions to the funding bill.

“Republicans are not asking Democrats to support any new Republican policies. We’re not asking them to swallow any partisan policy riders. We’re simply asking them to turn the lights back on,” Thune wrote.

“We have put forward a clean, nonpartisan CR. That’s the bill Democrats are rejecting.”

Republicans are not asking Democrats to support any new Republican policies. We’re not asking them to swallow any partisan policy riders. We’re simply asking them to turn the lights back on.

We have put forward a clean, nonpartisan CR. That’s the bill Democrats are rejecting. pic.twitter.com/6dZaySZnho

— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) October 14, 2025

The continuing resolution, known as H.R. 5317, passed the House with Republican support and backing from three Senate Democrats.

The measure would fund government operations temporarily while Congress works toward a broader budget agreement.

Republicans maintain that the bill is “clean,” containing no policy riders and no new partisan measures.

Senate Democrats, however, have declined to advance it, insisting instead on additional spending and policy provisions tied to foreign aid and domestic programs.

The standoff has forced federal agencies to scale back nonessential operations while maintaining essential services.

OMB officials said contingency plans will remain in effect until new appropriations are approved.

The shutdown has intensified political pressure in Washington, with both parties seeking to shape public perception of the stalemate.

The House and Senate are expected to reconvene later this week for further negotiations, though there is little indication that Democrats plan to accept the House-passed resolution.

As the shutdown extends into its third week, Republican lawmakers say the solution remains straightforward — Senate Democrats could vote to reopen the government immediately by passing the House-approved continuing resolution.

Until then, the Schumer Shutdown continues.