Democrats Vote to Keep Government Closed While Demanding ‘Batsh*t Insane’ Funding [WATCH]

The government shutdown entered its third day on Friday after Senate Democrats blocked another Republican-led attempt to reopen federal agencies, prolonging the standoff and ensuring the closure will continue through the weekend.

Lawmakers returned from a one-day recess for Yom Kippur but made little progress in bridging differences over a path forward.

The Senate voted 54-44 in favor of a Republican measure to reopen the government, falling short of the 60 votes needed for passage. It marked the fourth failed attempt in as many days.

As in earlier votes, three members of the Democratic caucus — Senators John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Angus King (I-Maine) — joined most Republicans in support of the bill. The majority of Democrats, however, remained united in opposition.

🚨 BREAKING: US senators are now GOING HOME for the weekend after negotiations fall flat to reopen the federal government.

OMB Director Russ Vought now has ALL WEEKEND to work on federal firings and slashing funding to blue jurisdictions.

Democrats again REFUSED to support the… pic.twitter.com/x5SF8fo5np

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 3, 2025

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Republicans would continue to bring the bill up until Democrats relented.

“They have taken hostage the federal government and, by extension, the American people, who are the only losers in this,” Thune said on the Senate floor.

“Everybody’s talking about who wins and who loses and who gets the blame. That’s not what this is about. This is about doing what’s in the best interest of the American people. And what’s in the best interest of the American people is keeping the government open and operating so it can continue to work on their behalf.”

Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), have insisted on negotiating a bipartisan continuing resolution before agreeing to reopen the government.

Central to their demands is an extension of Obamacare tax credits set to expire at the end of the year.

Republicans say they are willing to address the matter but only after federal agencies are funded and reopened.

🚨 HOLY CRAP! Senator John Kennedy exposed on the Senate floor that several of the funding provisions Democrats are demanding to open the government include… pic.twitter.com/gO6FsEZ1t2

…$4M for LGBTQ in Uganda and the Western Balkans, $3.6M for cooking classes and dance focus…

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 3, 2025

“We know Americans want this, and we know many of my Republican colleagues want this as well,” Schumer said Friday.

“But failure to act would be devastating. And Republicans know it. Even Donald Trump knows it. He talked about it a little bit with us in the White House.”

Some Democrats have suggested the shutdown itself is an opportunity to oppose President Trump.

“The truth is, we shut down the government because Republicans wouldn’t negotiate, because Donald Trump wants to shut down,” Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said.

“He’s just bragging in the Oval Office about how good a shutdown will be for him. And we’re going to talk about the consequences of Republicans continuing to push these giant healthcare increases on people and the consequences of a lawless president.”

Meanwhile, the administration has stepped up pressure on Democratic-led states by withholding federal funds.

Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said Friday that $2.8 billion for a Chicago infrastructure project would be frozen over concerns of “race-based contracting.”

JUST IN: OMB Director Russell Vought announced that the administration has PAUSED $2.1 billion in Chicago infrastructure projects “to ensure funding is not flowing via race-based contracting.”

Vought wrote on 𝕏: “$2.1 billion in Chicago infrastructure projects–specifically the… pic.twitter.com/5QiZuQXCUg

— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) October 3, 2025

Earlier in the week, the administration put $18 billion for New York infrastructure projects on hold and canceled or delayed $8 billion in environmental funding across 16 states.

Thune said Democrats’ refusal to compromise has empowered the administration to take such actions.

“They are allowing the administration to do the very thing that, back in March, they said they didn’t want to give them the authority to do,” Thune said.

“And that’s to make decisions just like that. But that’s what’s going to happen.”

In private talks, some lawmakers have floated short-term solutions.

One option under consideration is extending the tax credits for one year after reopening the government.

Another idea is passing a shorter continuing resolution that runs through November 1, when open enrollment begins for Obamacare.

Republicans involved in discussions, however, favor extending funding until at least November 21 to allow time for appropriators to complete work on spending bills.

“Nobody’s married to any of this, but we’ve got to get the 45 days in effect first,” Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said.

For now, the stalemate continues, with neither side showing signs of backing down as the shutdown stretches on.