Republicans Scorn ‘Absurd,’ ‘Non-Starter’ Schumer Ploy to End Shutdown After 38 Days
Congressional Republicans blasted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s latest proposal Friday to end the ongoing government shutdown, dismissing it as a desperate, unserious ploy to protect Obamacare subsidies and claiming Democrats are “holding the entire country hostage.”
On the 38th day of the longest shutdown in U.S. history, Schumer proposed a “clean, one-year extension” of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies that are set to expire at the end of 2026. The extension would be attached to a stopgap bill to reopen the government and allow negotiations on full appropriations through September 2026.
“After so many [14] failed votes, it’s clear we need to try something different,” Schumer said during a floor speech, flanked by members of the Senate Democratic Caucus. “Democrats would like to see an end to the shutdown — and we want to respect Leader Thune’s desire not to negotiate on ACA until after the government reopens.”
Framing the offer as “not a negotiation,” but merely “an extension of current law,” Schumer added that Democrats would support a bipartisan committee to tackle long-term health care reforms once the government is reopened. “We need Republicans to just say, ‘Yes,’” he concluded.
Republicans quickly said “no.”
“This is a nonstarter,” said Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), chair of the Republican Study Committee. “It’s an absurd offer from Chuck Schumer.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) agreed, telling reporters the proposal “doesn’t come anywhere close” to what’s needed to reopen the government. “It’s an indication that they’re feeling the heat,” he said. “But it won’t go anywhere.”
The conservative House Freedom Caucus accused Schumer of using the shutdown to enrich health insurance companies and fund a left-wing wish list. “They’re holding the entire country hostage to protect their failing health care scheme — while families go without paychecks,” the group said in a statement.
President Trump, who has remained firm on his stance that Democrats must fund the government before policy talks begin, echoed that sentiment Friday evening. In a Truth Social post, he urged Republicans to either make a deal or “terminate the Filibuster,” a move Thune has repeatedly rejected.
Earlier this week, Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) requested a new sitdown with Trump, following an earlier meeting that yielded no progress. But the White House remained unmoved. “The president’s position has not changed,” an official told The Post. “He is only open to discussing policy with the Democrats when they reopen the government.”
Despite cracks showing among some Senate Democrats — three of whom joined Republicans to support a separate GOP-backed bill to pay furloughed federal workers — most of the caucus continues to insist that a deal must include ACA subsidy protections. The Senate ultimately failed to pass that GOP measure, which fell short of the 60-vote threshold with a 53-43 tally.
Senate Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority. The shutdown began on October 1, when all but three Democrats blocked a continuing resolution that would have extended government funding through November 21.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) blasted Democrats in a post on X, saying, “Even Democrats admit it: their party doesn’t care about chaos at the airports. They don’t care about families going hungry. They don’t care about our troops missing paychecks. All they care about is protecting their political brand. Just pathetic.”
Meanwhile, with the holiday travel season approaching and federal employees missing paychecks, pressure is mounting for lawmakers to resolve the impasse. But with both parties dug in — and Democrats refusing to budge on subsidies — there’s still no end in sight.