Senate to Hold 6th Vote on Government Funding as Shutdown Hits 1 Week Mark

On Monday, the Senate again rejected two proposals to fund the government.

A sign indicating that the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is closed due to the government shutdown in Washington on Oct. 1, 2025. Al Drago/Getty Images

The U.S. Senate is expected to hold its sixth vote on two competing bills to fund the federal government on Tuesday, coming as the government shutdown reaches the one-week mark.

On Monday, after they returned to Capitol Hill following a weekend break, the Senate again rejected two proposals to fund the government. Votes on the two proposals fell along party lines.

The upper chamber voted down the Democrats’ government funding bill, which would alter health care provisions changed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, in a 45–50 vote. Republicans’ proposed short-term extension of funding—at the existing level before the shutdown—also failed again in a 52–42 vote.

The shutdown began at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Oct. 1, after the two parties were unable to reach an agreement to keep the government open. Despite taking several votes on competing funding options over the past week, neither side has garnered enough support for its proposal.

Republican ‘Clean’ Extension

At the core of the ongoing shutdown is a disagreement over what the bill to extend funding should include.

The bill put forward by Republicans, which has the backing of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and President Donald Trump, is considered a “clean” funding extension, describing a bill without partisan attachments or other bill riders.

After the vote failed on Monday, Thune criticized Democrats’ rejection of the package.

Like most other legislation in the upper chamber, funding bills must receive 60 votes initially to move forward to a simple majority vote. That means at least seven Democrats would need to sign on to the proposal for it to move forward.

So far, Republicans have expressed hope that they can garner more support for the measure among Democrats.

Currently, three Democrats—Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Angus King (I-Maine), who caucuses with Democrats—have expressed support for the measure.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), meanwhile—a historical critic of funding extensions—has voted against his party’s proposal.

“The American people are the ones suffering the most during this government shutdown,” Thune said in a statement on X. “Senate Democrats are prolonging the pain by not passing our clean, nonpartisan CR to reopen the government.”

Democrats Demand Health Changes

Democrats are calling for a reversal of up to $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as well as an extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year.

Republicans over the past week have described these demands as unprecedented and a non-starter, but Democrats have said they feel comfortable in holding firm on their demands.

“All the Dems that I’ve talked to … feel like our message on health care is connecting,” Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) told reporters outside the Senate chamber.

Kim also noted that 10 House Republicans have expressed support for ACA subsidy extensions, suggesting that such an extension could likely pass in the House.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) also told reporters that he shares broad concerns about the potential impacts of ACA subsidies lapsing, which he said will include premiums doubling for some people in his state.

“I think we need to find some solution, at least for the short to medium term,” Hawley said.

Trump suggested to reporters on Oct. 6 that he may be open to discussions on ACA subsidies, saying “some very good things” could happen.

Specifically, Trump indicated that he would be open to making a deal on the issue, but he also cited some Republicans’ concerns that the subsidies waste “billions and billions” of dollars.

“We are speaking with the Democrats,” Trump said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) later told reporters that no such talks were ongoing, but he said he would welcome discussions.

Jackson Richman and Nathan Worcester contributed to this report.