The federal government shutdown is now in its 17th day after the Senate once failed to pass a spending measure that would have reopened things. Thursday’s vote was the tenth time lawmakers have attempted to pass the legislation that’s Republican-backed and has already made it through the House.
Democrats continue to hold firm in wanting to see healthcare subsidies preserved as a sticking point for any conversation about making a deal to end the shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson sounded the alarm earlier this week that this shutdown may become the longest in history.