Government Shutdown Day 17: Senate Rejects GOP Spending Bill for 10th Time as Health Care Fight Intensifies

• by Shimanta Das
• October 18, 2026

The partial government shutdown entered its 17th day on Wednesday as the Senate rejected a Republican-led stopgap spending bill for the 10th time, with no resolution in sight. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has repeatedly forced votes on the House-passed measure to reopen the government through November 21, but Democrats have remained united in opposition, demanding that Congress address health care benefits as part of any funding deal. The bill has failed to advance each time, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed or working without pay.nnThune highlighted the mounting consequences of the impasse, saying, “Every day that goes by, there are more and more Americans who are getting smaller and smaller paychecks.” He also noted that the disruption has caused thousands of flight delays nationwide as air traffic controllers and TSA agents call in sick or work without pay. Despite the pressure, Thune has insisted that Democrats vote to reopen the government before entering negotiations on health care, stating that discussions over significant changes could take weeks. “We can’t negotiate with a gun to our head,” he said, reiterating that the GOP-led stopgap is the only path forward.nnDemocrats, however, show no signs of breaking rank. They argue that the shutdown fight is their best leverage to force action on health care, particularly the expiration of ACA tax credits that have left millions facing higher premiums. Some Republicans have expressed concern about the expiring credits, but consensus on a solution remains limited within the GOP. Independent Senator Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with Democrats, voted again in support of the Republican-led stopgap, along with a few other senators, but the vast majority of Democrats held firm. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Democrats will continue to block the bill until Republicans agree to negotiate on health care. “We are fighting for the American people’s health care,” he said.nnA new poll finds that 54% of adults call the shutdown a “major issue,” with just 11% saying it is “not a problem at all.” Democrats are most likely, at 69%, to see it as a major problem, but 59%