US Parties Trade Blame for Stalled Negotiations as Shutdown Shows Signs of Prolonging

As the temporary shutdown of the U.S. federal government entered its fifth day on October 6, 2025, the White House and leaders of both parties continued to trade blame over the cause of the shutdown and the ongoing deadlock in negotiations.

On October 5 (local time), leaders from the ruling Republican Party and the opposition Democratic Party appeared on various broadcast news programs, each maintaining their existing positions and demands, while insisting that the other side was responsible for the stalled negotiations and continuing to criticize one another.

Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House and a Republican, stated, "The reason the government is shut down is because (Senate Majority Leader) Chuck Schumer and his 43 Democratic Senate colleagues have repeatedly voted to keep the government closed."

Speaker Johnson also referred to the passage of a "clean continuing resolution (CR)"-which maintained existing spending levels-by the Republicans in the House on September 19 and its subsequent transmission to the Senate, adding, "We have done our part."

Yonhap News Agency

Senate Republican Whip John Thune acknowledged that negotiations with the Democrats were currently "at a standstill," but dismissed the Democrats' demand to restore Medicaid cuts implemented under former President Trump's signature tax cut legislation, "The Big, Beautiful Law," as a "nonstarter," saying, "It is neither serious, nor reasonable, nor realistic."

In response, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries countered, "We are fighting for the hardworking American taxpayers, middle-class, and working-class Americans' healthcare benefits, after witnessing the 'Big, Ugly Law' that the Republicans passed over the past several months."

This indicates that the Democrats have no intention of dropping their demands to restore Medicaid cuts and to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare) subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of this year.

Leader Jeffries also referenced the White House meeting between President Trump and bipartisan leaders on September 29, which ended without a deal, pointing out, "Unfortunately, since then, the Republicans-including Trump-have completely cut off contact."

With bipartisan negotiations to pass a short-term spending bill (continuing resolution, or CR) in Congress stalled and both sides only trading accusations, there are growing signs that the shutdown could be prolonged.

The Senate is scheduled to continue voting on the CR passed by the House on October 6, but U.S. media outlets report that, given the current situation, its passage is far from certain.