On October 1, the Senate voted 55–45 against advancing the Republican stopgap bill, which would have funded the government through November 21 while Congress worked on a full-year budget for fiscal 2026. Unlike the House, which passed the bill on September 19 by a simple majority, the Senate requires at least 60 votes for approval.
Senator Rand Paul was the only Republican to oppose the measure, while three Democrats—Catherine Cortez Masto, John Fetterman, and Angus King—crossed party lines to support it. Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate compared to 47 for Democrats.
This was the second failed Senate vote on the proposal in as many days, following the government shutdown at midnight on October 1. Without passage, most federal operations remain suspended.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer argued that Republicans cannot secure enough support and must negotiate on key issues, including the renewal of Affordable Care Act subsidies expiring at year’s end and restrictions on the White House budget office director’s authority to cut previously approved spending.
“Republicans tried to bully us, but clearly they cannot. They don’t have the votes. The only way forward is for them to roll up their sleeves and work with us,” Schumer said.
Senate Republican leader John Thune vowed to keep the chamber voting through the weekend, insisting President Donald Trump would not sign any alternative deal to reopen the government. He urged moderate Democrats to break ranks, saying: “Once we pass this, then we can address the issues Democrats are raising.”