Republicans Blast Schumer’s Latest Move to End Shutdown as ‘Absurd’ and ‘Impossible to Accept’ After 38 Days of Stalemate.qn

Congressional Republicans roundly rejected Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s “compromise” offer to end the government shutdown after 38 days, accusing Democrats of “holding the entire country hostage” as President Trump demanded they keep working through the weekend.

In a floor speech Friday, Schumer (D-NY) called for a “clean, one-year extension” of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies set to expire at the end of this year.

The extension through Dec. 31, 2026, would have been appended to a stopgap funding bill that if passed, would have allowed time to negotiate longer-term government appropriations through Sept. 30, 2026.

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaking at a press conference.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has offered a “compromise” to end the ongoing government shutdown. AFP via Getty Images

“After so many [14] failed votes, it’s clear we need to try something different,” argued the Brooklyn Democrat, flanked by members of his conference. “What the Senate is doing isn’t working for either party — and isn’t working for the American people.”

“Democrats would like to see an end to the shutdown — and we want to respect [Senate Majority] Leader [John] Thune’s desire not to negotiate on ACA until after the government reopens,” Schumer went on, adding that his offer was “not a negotiation,” but “an extension of current law.”

The minority leader went on to call for the creation of “a bipartisan committee that will continue negotiations after the government reopens on reforms ahead of next year’s enrollment period, to provide long-term certainty that health care costs will be more affordable.”

“We need Republicans to just say, ‘Yes,’” Schumer concluded.

It didn’t take long for GOP lawmakers and aides in both chambers of Congress to respond with a resounding “no.”

“I think it’s an indication that they’re feeling the heat, and they know that their last proposal was unserious and unrealistic,” Thune told reporters, “so I guess you could characterize that as progress, but I just don’t think that it gets anywhere close to what we need to do here.”

House Freedom Caucus criticizes a proposal from Senate Democrats regarding reopening the government and healthcare subsidies.

Schumer proposed a “clean, one-year extension” of the Affordable Care Act. X/@freedomcaucus

Had the Senate taken up Schumer on his offer, the bill would have had to pass the House of Representatives before going to Trump’s desk to reopen the government.

“This is a nonstarter for the Republican Study Committee,” responded Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), who serves as chairman of the largest group of House GOP lawmakers.

“This is an absurd offer from Chuck Schumer,” added the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

“Senate Democrats are now saying they’ll ONLY agree to reopen the government if we extend the temporary COVID Obamacare subsidies for health insurance companies.

“They’re holding the entire country hostage to protect their failing health care scheme and enrich insurance companies, while funding abortion, child sex changes, and exacerbating fraud  — all while families go without paychecks,” they added.

Friday evening, Trump insisted in a Truth Social post that Republicans should either reach “a Deal to end the Democrat Shutdown” or “terminate the Filibuster” — which Thune has rejected.

Schumer’s proposal came on the 38th day of the federal shutdown — now the longest in US history.

A departures board at San Francisco International Airport showing flight 8127 as "Cancelled".

The conservative House Freedom Caucus claimed the minority leader’s offer was absurd. JOHN G MABANGLO/EPA/Shutterstock

Traditional Democratic constituencies, including the largest unions representing federal employees and air traffic controllers, have called for an end to the shutdown by passing the Republican-backed so-called “clean” continuing resolution.

Senate Democrats later Friday also blocked a GOP bill, backed by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), to compensate federal workers who have missed at least two pay periods.

Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and John Ossoff (D-Ga.) joined Republicans, but the 53-43 vote wasn’t enough to break the filibuster.

The shutdown began on Oct. 1 after all but three Senate Democrats blocked that bill, which would have funded the government at current levels until Nov. 21.

A sign stating "Closed due to federal government shutdown" in front of the National Gallery of Art.

The government shutdown has reached its 38th day, marking it the longest one in U.S. history. AFP via Getty Images

Lawmakers have refused to advance the legislation no fewer than 14 times, keeping it from clearing the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster.

Republicans hold a narrow 53-47 majority in the upper chamber.

Earlier this week, Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) demanded a White House meeting with President Trump to negotiate an end to the shutdown — after an earlier sitdown yielded no results.

“The president’s position has not changed,” a White House official told The Post Friday. “He has repeatedly made clear he is only open to discussing policy with the Democrats when they reopen the government and stop holding the American people hostage.”

Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) have taken the same line in response to Democrats’ demands regarding health care subsidies. Both have also needled Dems for suggesting that the shutdown has given their party “leverage.”

“I think there will be some pretty substantial damage to a Democratic brand that has been rehabilitated if on the heels of an election, in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop fighting,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) told Punchbowl News Thursday.

“If we surrender without having gotten anything and we cause a lot of folks in this country who had started to believe in the Democratic Party to retreat again, I worry that it will be hard to get them back up off the mat in time for next fall’s election cycle.”

“Even Democrats admit it: their party doesn’t care about chaos at the airports. They don’t care about families going hungry. They don’t care about our troops missing paychecks,” Johnson fumed in an X post Friday.

“All they care about is protecting their political brand. Just pathetic.”

Related Posts

Will Jones’ latest single “Ride With Me” unveils a raw, emotional journey.rub

Recently spotlighted by Country Now as a “Country Next” artist and featured in Holler’s “10 Country and Americana Artists You Need To Know,” Will Jones cements his rising-star status with…

Read more

Rihanna entered the delivery room as the untouchable queen, but the raw chaos of new life halted her universe in an instant, igniting global hearts with a mix of awe and urgent wonder over the legacy being born.jj

BREΑKING: Joy tυrпs to tragedy as Rihaппa’s third childbirth takes aп υпexpected tυrп… Α$ΑP Rocky breaks dowп over a past decisioп he caп’t escape… aпd a hiddeп trυth fiпally comes…

Read more

Jelly Roll’s Breakthrough Australia and New Zealand Tour Ends in Heartbreak as Illness Forces Auckland Finale Cancellation. WN

Jelly Roll’s long-awaited debut tour of Australia and New Zealand came to a sudden halt in Auckland, with the US genre-bending star forced to cancel the final show due to…

Read more

From red-carpet radiance to a battle that breaks souls: Fan Bingbing’s family exposed her silent torment, draping the planet in collective tears and a relentless pursuit of the unknown.JJ

You are here: Home / Uncategorized / The World Stands Still: Fan Bingbing’s Family Confirms a Devastating Battle That Leaves Fans in Tears and Searching for Answers.MD Heartbreakiпg revelatioп stυпs millioпs: Faп Biпgbiпg, the timeless…

Read more

Republicans are pushing to revoke Zohran Mamdani’s US citizenship. Is it possible?.qn

After Zohran Mamdani handily won the New York City mayoral election, becoming the city’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor-elect, Republican detractors in Washington, DC, said they would try to stop…

Read more

Princess Catherine’s Powerful Return to Royal Duty After Moving to Windsor Sends Shockwaves, Leaving Royal Fans In Awe.x

Kate Middleton’s Next Solo Royal Outing Revealed After Move to Forest Lodge The Princess of Wales will resume her royal duties with a poignant event Kate Middleton in September 2025.Credit…

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *