With the federal government shutdown in its second day on Thursday and no finish in sight, Senate Majority Chief John Thune continued to bash Democrats saying they’re “taking part in a shedding sport” in relation to the stalemate.
“I notice that my Democrat colleagues are dealing with stress from members of their far-left base, however they’re taking part in a shedding sport right here,” Thune stated on the Senate ground Thursday.
The Senate won’t maintain votes on Thursday — and whereas the Senate ground is open, the chamber will not be voting due to Yom Kippur. The following votes are scheduled for Friday.
Thune stated it’s “unlikely” that the Senate will take weekend votes if a Friday vote on authorities funding fails.
Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, speaks throughout a information convention exterior of his workplace on the US Capitol on the second day of the US authorities shutdown in Washington, October 2, 2025.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures
“They will have a fourth likelihood tomorrow to vote to reopen the federal government,” Thune stated of Democrats. “If that fails, then we’ll give them the weekend to consider it, we’ll come again and vote on Monday.”
Thune is resulting in the cost to peel off wavering Democrats to help the GOP’s Home-backed seven-week stopgap funding measure that will enable the federal government to function.
Thune stated that he believes rank-and-file Democrats will ultimately break with Minority Chief Chuck Schumer to go a short-term funding invoice to reopen the federal government.
The American flag over the Capitol is illuminated by the early morning mild on the primary day of a authorities shutdown, in Washington, Oct. 1, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
“I feel there are lots of rank-and-file Democrats who’re regretting letting Schumer lock them down into this rat gap,” Thune stated in an appeared on Fox Information’ “Hannity” Wednesday night time.
Thune stated Thursday that he’ll “see the place it goes” when requested about negotiations with Democrats.
“Till they’ve eight or hopefully extra, 10 or extra folks, who wish to determine they wish to finish the federal government shutdown, I am unsure this goes wherever,” he stated.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune speaks to reporters exterior of his workplace on the US Capitol, on the second day of the US authorities shutdown in Washington, October 2, 2025.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures
Democrats hung collectively Wednesday afternoon to dam, for the third time, a stopgap funding invoice provided by Republicans. Democrats are insisting that any answer handle their demands on health care earlier than they vote to advance it.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt instructed reporters on the White Home that the Trump administration, together with President Donald Trump, are persevering with to speak to lawmakers on Capitol Hill with goals to “encourage Democrats” to acquiesce and help the GOP short-term persevering with decision.
Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson joined at left by Sen. John Barrasso, the Senate GOP whip, arrives for an occasion with high Republicans on the federal government shutdown, on the Capitol in Washington, Oct. 1, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
“The president, vp, all the group right here will proceed to work and discuss to members on the Hill to try to come to a decision to attempt to encourage Democrats to muster up the braveness to do the correct factor,” Leavitt stated.
On Fox Information Thursday morning, Leavitt stated these discussions have been occurring particularly with “average Democrats and in addition with ally Senate Republicans who’ve good relationships with these moderates.”
Nonetheless, finger pointing continues as Democrats and Republicans commerce blame for the shutdown.
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks to the media on the White Home in Washington, October 2, 2025.
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On Thursday morning, Speaker Mike Johnson slammed Democrats and Schumer for the continuing shutdown, calling their stance “egocentric” and “reprehensible.”
“I haven’t got something to barter,” Johnson stated, after saying the Home despatched a clear persevering with decision to the Senate that funds the federal government for seven weeks.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer speaks to reporters on the Capitol, Oct. 1, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Democrats are hitting again with Schumer saying in a social media post that “Republicans shut down the federal government as a result of they’ll’t be bothered to guard well being take care of People throughout this nation.”
The blame-casting is extending on-line, too. Along with the public statements on federal websites blaming the “radical left” for the federal government shutdown, the Workplace of Administration and Price range inspired federal staff to create out-of-office e-mail messages denouncing “Democrat senators” for inflicting the federal government shutdown, sources instructed ABC Information.
Trump stated he has a gathering scheduled with OMB Director Russ Vought on Thursday to find out which agencies he “recommends” be cut — both quickly or completely.
Final week, the Trump administration threatened mass layoffs of some federal staff through the shutdown. Vought warned Home Republicans on a convention name Wednesday that the administration will begin firing federal staff within the subsequent “day or two,” a number of sources instructed ABC Information.
Leavitt instructed reporters on the White Home Thursday morning that the menace of mass firings and ending federal applications is “very actual” and there’ll probably be “1000’s” of federal staff laid off throughout the federal government shutdown.
It wasn’t but clear which departments and businesses may first be impacted, although the Trump administration has stated it might go after tasks in Democratic states — together with placing on maintain $18 billion in infrastructure funding for New York Metropolis and cancelling $8 billion for power tasks in 16 states that voted with Democrats within the final presidential election.
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks to the media on the White Home in Washington, October 2, 2025.
Will Oliver/EPA/Shutterstock
“We will have a look at businesses that do not align … with the administration’s values that we really feel are a waste of the taxpayer greenback,” Leavitt stated Thursday morning.
Trump wrote on social media late Wednesday night time that he desires Republicans to make use of the shutdown as an “alternative” to avoid wasting billions of {dollars} by clearing out “useless wooden, waste, and fraud.”
“I can’t consider the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented alternative,” Trump stated in a Thursday social media publish about cuts through the shutdown.
ABC Information’ Karen Travers and Michelle Stoddart contributed to this report.
