Senate Majority Leader John Thune erupted in anger on the Senate floor on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, chastising Democrats for repeatedly blocking measures to end the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 29th day. His outburst highlighted the intense frustration and partisan gridlock as critical deadlines for food assistance and military pay loom.
On Wednesday afternoon, an irate Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) confronted Democratic Senator Ben Ray Luján on the Senate floor, objecting vehemently to a unanimous consent request to fund SNAP and WIC programs. Thune, in a rare display of fury, pointed across the chamber and shouted, ‘You voted no 13 times!’ referring to Democrats’ repeated rejections of a stopgap funding bill passed by the House. He accused Democrats of engaging in a ‘cynical attempt’ to provide political cover while prolonging the shutdown, emphasizing that real people’s lives are at stake and that the administration has done its best to manage programs but funds are running out.
The government has been partially shut down since October 1, 2025, after Democrats blocked a continuing resolution over disputes regarding Affordable Care Act subsidies. Republicans argue that the government should be reopened before negotiating on health care, while Democrats insist on addressing both issues simultaneously. The impasse has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed or working without pay, and essential services are straining under the financial strain, with House staffers set to miss their first paychecks on Friday, adding to the economic pain.
Amid the stalemate, rank-and-file senators from both parties have been engaged in behind-the-scenes ‘shadow negotiations’ to find a path forward. Senators like Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) expressed cautious optimism, with Murkowski noting a ‘significant uptick in bipartisan conversation.’ Thune himself acknowledged that talks have ‘ticked up significantly’ and hoped they might be a ‘precursor of things to come,’ though he remained unwilling to discuss health care policy until the government reopens, reflecting the deep divisions between party leadership and grassroots efforts.
Key deadlines are adding pressure, with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for 42 million Americans set to expire this weekend, marking the first potential lapse in the program’s history. Additionally, military pay and other critical functions face interruptions, and the Congressional Budget Office projected that the shutdown could cost the economy up to $14 billion, delaying federal spending and slowing growth. These looming crises have intensified calls for a resolution, with some senators suggesting that full-year appropriations bills could offer a way out of the cyclical funding fights.
Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, maintain that Republicans are not offering anything new and are using the shutdown to avoid addressing health care affordability. Democrats have highlighted the impact of rising health insurance premiums, with open enrollment beginning November 1, and argue that extending ACA subsidies is essential. At a news conference, senators and health influencers warned of ‘painful days ahead’ if health care costs are not addressed, citing real-world consequences like rationed insulin and delayed medical care that could lead to severe health outcomes.
Republicans, led by Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, blame Democrats for the shutdown, accusing them of political gamesmanship. Johnson called Democratic leaders ‘irredeemable’ and suggested that the influence of New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is affecting their stance. Some Republicans, like Lindsey Graham, expressed hope that the shutdown could end next week, while others, like Thom Tillis, saw no imminent breakthrough, underscoring the internal GOP divisions and the challenge of unifying around a strategy.
The ongoing shutdown underscores deep partisan divisions and the challenges of governance in a polarized environment. With the House out of session and the Senate planning to break for the weekend, the path to resolution remains uncertain. Senators are weighing options like full-year appropriations bills as a potential off-ramp, but without a clear consensus, millions of Americans face heightened uncertainty over basic needs and services, and the political fallout could reshape dynamics ahead of future elections.