By Jim Thomas | Saturday, 08 November 2025 06:27 PM EST
A rare Saturday session of the U.S. Senate ended without votes or publicly released legislation, highlighting the escalating stalemate over funding that risks prolonging the federal government shutdown. With only days remaining before key agencies face funding exhaustion, lawmakers scrambled for a resolution.
Senators reconvened Saturday as the 39-day funding lapse continued, but left the Capitol with minimal progress. No votes were cast, and the text of a three-bill “minibus” aimed at funding military construction, agriculture, and the legislative branch for fiscal 2026 remained undisclosed, according to Reuters. Republican leadership chose not to push a vote Saturday afternoon, citing ongoing negotiations to finalize details. Two GOP sources indicated senators may meet Sunday for lunch and consider voting on a House-approved stopgap spending bill, per The Hill.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Saturday that the chamber would stay in session until the government reopened. “The question is whether we can have everything ready to go,” Thune said. “We’re getting close to having it ready.” He emphasized that legislative text must be released before votes could proceed, noting overnight bipartisan talks were “positive.”
Democrats introduced an alternative proposal Friday, offering a one-year extension of enhanced healthcare tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act, alongside a clean continuing resolution and a three-bill minibus. Republicans swiftly rejected the plan, arguing subsidy extensions diverted funds to insurers rather than individuals.
President Donald Trump weighed in late Saturday via social media, demanding Senate Republicans redirect funding from insurers to taxpayers. “NO MORE MONEY, HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, TO THE DEMOCRAT SUPPORTED INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR REALLY BAD OBAMACARE,” he posted. “THE MONEY MUST NOW GO DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE…”
On the Senate floor, GOP lawmakers criticized the Democratic plan. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, questioned Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., about income caps and written details of the proposal. Schumer responded that income-cap discussions would follow after reopening, stating, “Once we pass the one-year fix, so people right now aren’t in difficulty, we would sit and negotiate that.”
Republican leaders appear to favor a short-term spending measure ending Jan. 30, according to Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla. However, Thune stressed that while healthcare talks are guaranteed, outcomes remain uncertain, noting any subsidy extension must wait until government funding is restored.
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
