Congress Stalemate Continues as Deadline Approaches for Government Funding

Tue Nov 25 2025 16:17:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Congress approaches a crucial vote on government funding, both Democratic and Republican leaders remain at an impasse over key issues, particularly healthcare. With mounting public concern about the consequences of a government shutdown, leaders are urged to find common ground.

With just hours before a crucial vote on government funding, Congress remains stuck in a stalemate as Democratic and Republican leaders blame each other for the ongoing shutdown. Key disagreements focus on healthcare-related issues like insurance subsidies and Medicaid cuts. New polling reveals widespread public dissatisfaction with both parties, as the consequences of the shutdown start to take a toll on services and public opinion.

Democratic and Republican leaders remain far apart on how to end the partial shutdown of the US government as another day of voting approaches on Monday.

In separate Sunday interviews with NBC's Meet the Press, the House's top Democrat Hakeem Jeffries and its Republican leader Mike Johnson each blamed the other's party for the continued standoff, which will head to day five on Monday.

The key dividing issue has been healthcare. Democrats want to ensure health insurance subsidies for those with low-income do not expire and aim to reverse cuts to the Medicaid health programme.

A bill to fund the government has passed the House, but has repeatedly failed in the Senate.

Jeffries accused Republicans of lying about Democrats' intentions in the negotiations because they're losing the court of public opinion. But Johnson said Democrats are not serious and negotiating in bad faith - they're doing this to get political cover.

The Senate is expected to reconvene Monday afternoon and once again take up a pair of continuing resolutions to fund the government. Meanwhile, House Democrats will meet Monday to discuss the situation. Johnson has extended a House recess through the week, meaning Congress' lower chamber will not be in session to take up a funding bill should the Senate make any changes and come to a deal.

Republicans hold a narrow majority of 53 seats in the 100-seat Senate, but any funding measure will require 60 votes to pass.

In his interview with NBC, Johnson argued that Democrats' refusal to approve a short-term spending bill that kept funding at current levels was unnecessary. The healthcare tax credits at issue don't expire until the end of the year, he said, and a Democratic proposal would add too much new spending in a seven-week stopgap measure.

Some Republicans, including Vice-President JD Vance, have cast the Democrats' position as trying to give healthcare benefits to illegal aliens. Democrats have denied those claims, emphasizing that undocumented immigrants are not eligible for the schemes they're supporting.

New polling data from CBS has found that Americans view both parties' handling of the shutdown unfavourably, with President Trump also netting a negative reception. About 80% of those polled expressed concern about the shutdown's effect on the economy, and the consequences of the stalemate are becoming evident as institutions like The National Gallery of Art announce closures.

Johnson stated negotiations needed to be more earnest and emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation to reopen the government.

As the clock ticks down, both parties face increasing pressure from the public to resolve the funding issue and prevent further disruption to government services.