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By Gabe Whisnant
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Senator John Thune said Monday he was “optimistic” the Senate could vote to reopen the government by the end of the week.
“But if we don’t start seeing some progress or evidence of that by at least the middle of this week, it’s hard to see how we would finish anything by the end of the week,” the South Dakota Republican told reporters.
Asked if he was confident, he turned at the chamber doorway and said, “Don’t push it.”
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Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that a group of lawmakers is discussing “a path to fix the health care debacle” and seeking assurances from Republicans not to lay off additional federal workers. It remains unclear whether those talks will lead to a compromise.
GOP leaders are hoping some Democrats will eventually break ranks, as moderate senators from both parties continue talks on possible compromises that would guarantee votes on health care measures in exchange for reopening the government. Republicans need five additional Democratic votes to advance their bill.
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What to Know
President Donald Trump said in an interview aired Sunday that he “won’t be extorted” by Democrats seeking negotiations to extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies. Speaking on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Trump echoed congressional Republicans in saying he will negotiate only after the government is reopened.
Trump accused Democrats of having “lost their way” and predicted they would eventually yield. “I think they have to,” he said. “And if they don’t vote, it’s their problem.”
His comments suggest the shutdown could still continue for some time as federal workers, including air traffic controllers, face missed paychecks and uncertainty grows over whether 42 million Americans who receive federal food aid will have continued access to assistance. Senate Democrats have voted 13 times against reopening the government, maintaining that negotiations must happen before any vote to restore funding.
The president also renewed his call for Republican leaders to eliminate the Senate filibuster, a rule that requires 60 votes to advance most legislation. GOP senators have repeatedly rejected the idea, saying the rule protects the chamber’s deliberative nature and allows the minority party to block policies it opposes.
Trump’s renewed push to nuke the filibuster could also pose a distraction for Thune and other Republicans who have chosen to stay the course as the effects of the shutdown deepen.
Trump acknowledged that argument but said Republicans “have to get tougher.” “If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want,” he told CBS.
Now in its 34th day and nearing the six-week mark, the shutdown is on track to become the longest in U.S. history, surpassing the 35-day impasse in 2018–19 that occurred during Trump’s first term.
What Has Been The Longest Government Shutdown?
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history lasted 35 days, from Dec. 22, 2018, to Jan. 25, 2019. The partial shutdown stemmed from a dispute between Trump and congressional Democrats over funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall. It left about 800,000 federal workers furloughed or working without pay and disrupted a wide range of government services, from airport security to food inspections. The impasse ended when Trump agreed to temporarily reopen the government while negotiations continued.
Updates: 11/3/25, 4:53 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Updates: 11/3/25, 6:30 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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