The Senate on Tuesday (October 28) voted on the 13th on the Republican-backed clean-funding bill to reopen the US government until November 21. The measure again failed to clear the 60-vote mark, falling 54-45, with no lawmakers changing their positions from previous attempts.
Vice President JD Vance is expected to join Senate Republicans for a closed-door lunch as frustration mounts over the prolonged shutdown.
The fallout from the shutdown is growing nationwide
The shutdown, now in its 28th day, continues to deepen its impact on federal services. The largest union representing government employees is pushing Senate Democrats to reach a deal to restore pay and operations.
One of the most pressing concerns is the impending cut to SNAP food assistance, which supports 42 million low-income Americans. The benefits could end as early as Saturday unless emergency funds are released.
States sue over food aid freeze
A coalition of Democratic-led states has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing federal officials of illegally refusing to use existing emergency reserves to maintain food rations.
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson warned that millions of children could go hungry if action is not taken.
“Nearly 600,000 children in our state could be without food within days because the USDA is playing an illegal weaning policy game,” Jackson said.
“They have emergency money to help feed the kids during this shutdown and they refuse to spend it.”
The states argue that the government has a $5 billion contingency fund that should be used to cover the estimated $8 billion needed for the November payments.
With federal workers and military personnel without pay, bipartisan pressure is mounting on lawmakers to break the impasse that has paralyzed government operations since Oct. 1.
