Washington, D.C. — The partial federal government shutdown entered its tenth day Saturday, with both parties accusing the other of holding up efforts to reopen agencies and pay federal employees.
Republican leaders say they passed a measure weeks ago to keep the government funded, but claim Senate Democrats are refusing to act. Democrats counter that Republicans are using the shutdown to push political priorities at the expense of healthcare protections and working families.
Republicans Frame a “Split Screen” of Action vs. Obstruction
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Americans are witnessing “a split screen right now” — one of “Republicans governing responsibly” and another of “Democrats playing politics.” In remarks posted on the Speaker’s official site, Johnson said the House already approved a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) to maintain government operations and pay U.S. troops.
“The Senate has had the opportunity to end this shutdown and chose not to,” Johnson said, accusing Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of “appeasing the far-left base” instead of helping reopen the government.
Johnson also praised former President Donald Trump’s recently announced Middle East peace plan, contrasting what he called “Republican results” with “Democratic dysfunction.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise echoed that message in a press release from his office, saying Democrats’ refusal to bring the funding bill to a vote was “an insult to millions of Americans who depend on these services.” Scalise argued that if “just five Senate Democrats” would cross the aisle, the shutdown could end immediately.
“This is about priorities,” Scalise said. “Republicans voted to keep pay flowing for our troops and federal workers. Democrats voted to keep Washington closed.”
Democrats Accuse GOP of Engineering the Shutdown
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, in a “Dear Colleague” letter, pushed back, saying Republicans are “holding the American people hostage to extreme demands.” He called the shutdown “a product of right-wing chaos” and said Democrats have been ready “from day one” to negotiate a reopening.
Jeffries charged that Speaker Johnson’s team canceled votes and recessed the House instead of working toward a solution. “Republicans shut down the government then went home,” Jeffries wrote.
He argued that Democrats’ stance centers on protecting healthcare coverage and affordability, which he said Republicans are undermining. “We will not allow an all-out Republican assault on healthcare for the American people,” Jeffries said in a separate press statement.
Growing Impacts Nationwide
As the shutdown drags into its second week, the economic and operational fallout continues to mount. More than 2 million civilian federal employees have missed paychecks, and 1.3 million active-duty service members are working without guaranteed compensation, according to the Speaker’s office.
Essential services are scaling back or halting altogether. A report from the Associated Press noted that agencies have begun implementing furloughs and reduced hours. Some departments have initiated formal layoff procedures, according to a statement from Democratic leadership.
Meanwhile, President Trump has said his administration identified funds to continue paying U.S. troops despite the lapse in appropriations, though Reuters reports such a move may raise legal questions under the Antideficiency Act.
What Comes Next
The Senate remains the key battleground. While the House passed a short-term CR before the shutdown began, Senate Democrats have not brought it to a vote, arguing it fails to include provisions extending Affordable Care Act subsidies and addressing healthcare costs.
Moderate Democrats are facing increasing pressure from Republicans to break ranks and back the funding bill. At the same time, polling shows public frustration rising as agencies close and economic uncertainty spreads.
With both parties entrenched, there is little indication of a breakthrough in the coming days and growing concern that the political standoff could last well into late October.
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