Senate Cancels Friday Vote
The United States government shutdown has reached its 17th day on Friday, October 17, 2025. The Senate cancelled its scheduled vote for Friday. Lawmakers will not reconvene until Monday, October 20, 2025. The next Senate session begins at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday. Voting will commence at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Third Longest Shutdown in History
The current shutdown has become the third longest in United States history. This shutdown matches the duration of the 2013 shutdown during President Barack Obama’s administration. The record remains at 35 days from Trump’s first term in December 2018 to January 2019. The 1995-1996 shutdown under President Bill Clinton lasted 21 days.
US Capitol Building remains closed
Thursday’s Failed Vote
The Senate rejected the Republican funding bill on Thursday, October 16, 2025. The vote tallied 51 in favour and 45 against the measure. Lawmakers needed 60 votes to advance the legislation. This marked the tenth consecutive failure to pass government funding.
Three Democratic-aligned senators supported the Republican proposal. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted with Republicans. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada backed the measure. Independent Senator Angus King of Maine also supported the bill. Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, voted against his party.
Republican Funding Proposal Details
Republicans proposed extending government funding through November 21, 2025. The measure maintains current spending levels for seven additional weeks. The bill includes 30 million dollars for congressional security. The legislation allocates 58 million dollars for executive and judicial branch protection.
House Republicans passed this stopgap measure on September 19, 2025. The House vote succeeded with a narrow 217-212 margin. Speaker Mike Johnson corralled his divided conference to support the bill.
Democratic Healthcare Demands
Democrats insist on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies before reopening government. These tax credits benefit 24 million Americans purchasing health insurance. The subsidies expire at the end of December 2025. Premium costs could more than double without the tax credits.
Health insurers will send premium increase notices by November 1, 2025. Small business owners, farmers, and contractors face significant cost increases. Average premiums could rise from 888 dollars to 1,904 dollars in 2026. The Congressional Budget Office estimates benchmark premiums could increase 4.3 per cent in 2026.
Senator Chuck Schumer described the situation during floor speeches. “The ACA crisis is looming over everyone’s head, and yet Republicans seem ready to let people’s premiums spike,” Schumer stated. Senate Appropriations Committee leader Patty Murray reported hearing from panicking families. “Families who are absolutely panicking about their premiums that are doubling,” Murray said.
Affordable Care Act Eligibility Chart
Leadership Standoff
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have not spoken this week. The two leaders trade accusations through media appearances instead of direct negotiations. Thune offered Democrats a guaranteed vote on healthcare subsidies. He cannot promise the vote would pass.
“If you need a vote, we can guarantee you get a vote by a date certain,” Thune told MSNBC. “I can’t guarantee it’s going to pass,” Thune added. Schumer rejected this offer immediately. “Leader Thune has not come to me with any proposal,” Schumer told reporters.
Thune described Schumer as boxed in by progressive groups. “He’s got all these groups coming in this weekend and a base that’s unhappy,” Thune explained to Axios. “He wants to see him fight Trump,” Thune continued.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune
Impact on Federal Workers
Approximately 750,000 federal employees face furloughs during the shutdown. Essential workers continue performing duties without pay. The Congressional Budget Office counts 2.25 million civilian federal employees. About 60 per cent work in Defence, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security departments.
Furloughed workers received partial paychecks reflecting only days worked before October 1. This represents their final compensation until government operations resume. Peter Farruggia, a furloughed federal worker, expressed financial concerns. “Luckily I was able to pay rent this month,” Farruggia said. “For sure I am going to have bills that are going to go unpaid this month,” he added.
A federal judge temporarily blocked Trump administration layoffs on Wednesday, October 15. The White House had issued reduction notices to approximately 4,200 federal employees. Judge Susan Illston ruled the layoff notices were illegal and exceeded authority. Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget director, predicted over 10,000 job cuts.
Military Pay Concerns
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. The order directs the Pentagon to ensure active-duty military personnel receive salaries. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth must utilise available Fiscal Year 2026 funds for military compensation. The administration reallocated eight billion dollars in existing funds for military and coast guard pay.
Active-duty service members received their October 15 mid-month paychecks. Military families experienced anxiety counting down minutes before payment confirmation. The next military paycheck arrives on October 31, 2025. Uncertainty remains about whether troops will receive this payment.
Senate Majority Leader Thune proposed voting on long-term Pentagon appropriations on Thursday. This Defence Department funding bill also failed to reach 60 votes. Only three Democrats supported advancing the defence legislation. The vote tallied 50 in favour and 44 against.
Military personnel’s pay statement
Political Blame Game
House Speaker Mike Johnson extended House recess through October 19, 2025. Johnson blamed Senate Democrats for continuing the shutdown. “We’re barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history unless Democrats drop their partisan demands,” Johnson said.
Johnson called the situation unprecedented for a clean continuing resolution. “It’s the first time in history that a clean CR has ever been the subject of a government shutdown,” Johnson stated. Democrats previously backed similar measures over a dozen times in recent years.
Schumer accused Republicans of refusing to address healthcare crisis. “Republicans are shutting down the government because they refuse to address the crisis in American health care,” Schumer said. Progressive senators Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rejected Republican assurances. “I don’t accept IOUs. I don’t accept pinky promises,” Ocasio-Cortez told CNN.
Weekend Outlook
The Senate will remain adjourned through the weekend. No legislative action will occur until Monday afternoon. The shutdown will extend at least until the Monday evening vote. Both parties show no signs of compromise or negotiation.
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Predictions suggest the shutdown could surpass historic lengths. Betting markets on Polymarket indicate 33 per cent expect resolution after November 16. Only one per cent predicted an end between October 15 and October 18. The shutdown will become second longest if it continues past October 22, 2025.
Federal agencies remain closed with essential services limited. National parks, museums, and federal landmarks stay shuttered. Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday afternoon. The meeting will address defensive weaponry provision following recent Russian attacks.
