Oct 28 WATCH: Senate convenes on Day 28 of shutdown as federal workers union calls for end to standoff By Kevin Freking, Stephen Groves, Associated Press The building strain on lawmakers to end the impasse was exemplified by the nation's largest federal employee union calling on Congress to immediately pass a funding bill and end the shutdown. Continue reading
Oct 28 WATCH: Senate committee holds hearing on political violence in aftermath of Charlie Kirk killing By Hannah Schoenbaum, Associated Press A Senate subcommittee hearing on political violence is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. ET. Continue reading
Oct 23 WATCH: Senate rejects bills to pay federal workers as shutdown enters 23rd day By Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Associated Press The Senate on Thursday rejected dueling partisan bills to pay federal workers during the government shutdown, with both Republicans and Democrats deflecting blame as many employees are set to miss their first full paycheck at the end of this week. Continue reading
Oct 22 WATCH: Sen. Merkley stages marathon overnight speech to protest Trump during shutdown By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Merkley spoke for more than 22 hours — from 6:21 p.m. Tuesday to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday — pausing for lengthy questions from other Democratic senators. Authoritarianism is not around the corner, Merkley said as he wrapped up his speech,… Continue reading
Oct 21 WATCH: 'We will not be extorted' in ending shutdown, Trump says at Senate Republican luncheon By Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick, Seung Min Kim, Associated Press While President Donald Trump said the shutdown must come to an end — and suggested maybe Smithsonian museums could reopen — he signaled no compromise with Democrats over the expiring health care funds. Continue reading
Oct 16 WATCH: Holding out for health care, Senate Democrats reject government funding bill for 10th time By Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Senate Democrats are rejecting for the 10th time a stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government. They are insisting they won’t back away from demands that Congress take up health care benefits. Continue reading
Oct 15 WATCH: Senate convenes as Trump administration threatens more firings due to federal shutdown By Fatima Hussein, Joey Cappelletti, Safiyah Riddle, Associated Press, Jesse Bedayn, Associated Press/ Report for America With every passing day of the government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed or working without pay face mounting financial strain. And now they are confronting new uncertainty with the Trump administration's promised layoffs. Continue reading
Oct 14 WATCH: Senate gavels in as Johnson warns this shutdown could be longest in U.S. history By Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press It's a highly unusual mass layoff widely seen as way to seize on the shutdown to reduce the scope of government. Vice President JD Vance has warned of "painful" cuts ahead, even as employee unions sue. Continue reading
Oct 10 WATCH: Thune holds news briefing as Congress remains deadlocked over shutdown By Associated Press Senate Majority Leader John Thune is showing no sign of backing away from his current tactic of pressing Democrats to vote for a stopgap government funding bill. Continue reading
Oct 09 WATCH: Senate convenes as federal government shutdown reaches day 9 By Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick, Matt Brown, Associated Press The consequences of a government shutdown setting in, senators labored Thursday to find a way forward but found themselves struggling to overcome a fundamental lack of trust between the two parties. Continue reading