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Senate Shutdown: Troops Unpaid, Millions Affected as Talks Continue

10/4/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Senate Democrats blocked a bipartisan spending bill, extending the shutdown; only three Democrats voted for it.
Active-duty troops remain unpaid, and funding shortages threaten WIC, affecting millions of Americans.
Sen. John Fetterman and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto urged bipartisan action, citing the shutdown's impact.
The Senate will reconvene Monday as talks continue about Democratic defections to end the shutdown.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. government shutdown in 1995, lasting 21 days due to budget disputes between President Bill Clinton and a Republican Congress, furloughed approximately 800,000 federal employees. This historical event parallels the current Senate Democrats' blockade of a bipartisan spending bill, which threatens funding for essential programs and active-duty troop wages, highlighting ongoing challenges in bipartisan cooperation on fiscal issues.

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Story summary

Senate Democrats blocked a bipartisan spending bill, extending the shutdown; only three Democrats voted for it.
Active-duty troops remain unpaid, and funding shortages threaten WIC, affecting millions of Americans.
Sen. John Fetterman and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto urged bipartisan action, citing the shutdown's impact.
The Senate will reconvene Monday as talks continue about Democratic defections to end the shutdown.

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