Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) proposed extending expiring healthcare subsidies for one year as part of a measure to reopen the government, in a move aimed at breaking the monthlong logjam.

Under Schumer’s plan, which he has shared with Senate Democrats, lawmakers would then establish a bipartisan commission to devise changes to the Affordable Care Act, which Republicans have demanded as they seek to rein in federal healthcare spending.

「After so many failed votes, it’s clear we need to try something different,」 Schumer said. After he spoke, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D., Wis.) and other Democrats who had rejected a Republican-backed bill to fund the government through Nov. 21 said they could support the approach.

But Senate Republicans quickly rejected the idea and said the offer was a sign that Democrats were caving. GOP lawmakers stuck to their position that negotiations on the subsidies could only occur after Democrats vote to end the shutdown. Democrats had originally sought a permanent extension of the subsidies, at a 10-year cost of roughly $350 billion.

「They’re feeling the heat, and they know that their last proposal was unserious and unrealistic,」 Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) told reporters, calling the new offer a 「nonstarter.」

Other lawmakers continued to huddle. A group of centrist Democrats including Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D., N.H.), Maggie Hassan (D., N.H.) and Jon Ossoff (D., Ga.) met for more than an hour in a basement hideaway belonging to Sen. Angus King (I., Maine), who caucuses with the Democrats. 「They had a productive meeting with 11 members,」 according to a person familiar with the matter.

The Democratic proposal came as Republicans were growing frustrated with efforts to hold a vote on a revised GOP proposal. Thune indicated he could hold a vote on narrow legislation to pay federal workers during the government shutdown, as negotiations dragged on with little signs of a breakthrough.

He had aimed for a Friday vote on funding most of the government through as long as January while simultaneously passing a trio of full-year bills funding military construction and veterans programs; the legislative branch; and the U.S. Agriculture Department. But by the afternoon he said that likely wouldn’t happen, instead floating the possibility of holding a vote on a bill from Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) to pay all federal workers, including those who are furloughed, during a shutdown.

The broader package, if enacted, would reopen the government temporarily and provide pay for embattled federal workers, including air-traffic controllers, likely alleviating flight delays and cancellations driven by absenteeism. 

「At some point, they’ve got to make a decision about whether or not they want to keep this going or they want to end it,」 Thune said of Democrats. He said the Senate would likely work into the weekend.

Senate Democrats have been digging in on their demands for extended healthcare subsidies after election wins this week emboldened the party.

「Tuesday made it very clear that people are sick and tired of Trumpism,」 said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), who caucuses with the Democrats. 「Democrats have got to remain firm.」

Still, some aired their own frustrations. Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.), the Senate minority whip, called for lawmakers to agree to end the shutdown before sundown Friday in a deal that addresses healthcare costs. 

「I have one word for my colleagues on both the other side of the aisle and on my side of the aisle. One word: enough,」 he said.

In any deal, Senate Democrats are seeking to reverse the layoffs that the Trump administration initiated at the start of the shutdown, as well as to undo the cuts to infrastructure projects targeted at blue states. They also want to void 「pocket rescissions,」 which White House budget chief Russ Vought used to claw back congressionally appropriated funds at the end of the last fiscal year.

Republicans have been silent on the path forward for certain ACA subsidies, which were enacted by Democrats during the Covid-19 crisis. Democrats have been fighting to extend those subsidies with the backing of some GOP lawmakers, but many Republicans have concerns about the cost—tens of billions of dollars a year—and worry that the subsidies mostly help insurance companies while doing little to manage the cost of care.

More than 20 million people currently benefit from the enhanced ACA subsidies. Open enrollment for next year’s ACA plans began this month, and users will face increased premiums if no extension is made.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) earlier in the standoff had called a one-year ACA extension a 「laughable proposition.」 But he backed the Schumer plan Friday, calling it a 「very reasonable, good faith proposal.」

Thune has promised to negotiate on the subsidies after the government reopens and has also offered a guaranteed vote, but not a guaranteed outcome. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) said this week that he wasn’t making any guarantees on holding even a vote.

Democrats’ strong wins in the Virginia and New Jersey governor races, and the victory by Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral contest, have convinced lawmakers that their shutdown stance is bearing fruit with voters and that there is no reason to cave without significant concessions.

Until now, only three senators who caucus with the Democrats—Angus King of Maine, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania—have joined with Republicans in support of an interim spending bill. That is too few to pass a bill through the 53-47 GOP-controlled Senate, where 60 votes are needed to pass most legislation.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has voted against the spending bill, meaning that a total of eight Democrats would be needed to join with Republicans.

Democrats were calculating their moves while facing increasing pressure from President Trump, who has in the past week called for Senate Republicans to ditch the chamber’s 60-vote rule and end the shutdown without Democratic votes.