Yesterday, the federal government shut down after negotiations between the White House and congressional leaders failed to produce a deal. The House had previously passed a short-term funding bill largely along party lines to keep the government open through November 21, but it stalled in the Senate. Democrats are insisting on an agreement to extend enhanced ACA tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
Although Democrats have proposed alternative short-term funding measures, none have gained traction. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has kept the House in recess this week to pressure the Senate into accepting the House bill, while President Donald Trump has added to the tension by urging Senate Democrats to fold, even threatening permanent federal workforce cuts during the shutdown. For now, both sides remain firmly entrenched, and the shutdown is underway with no clear resolution in sight.