Majority Leader | Research | The Leader Board | THE NEWSR...Skip to primary navigation Skip to content×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNE×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNExxsearchxMENUFacebookXInstagramFacebookXInstagramVisit Leader Thune's South Dakota Site Here THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNExxsearchxMENUHomeTHE NEWSROOMThe Leader Board11.06.25Progressives Demand a Longer Shutdown and More PainNot Satisfied With the Hardship Democrats’ Government Shutdown Has Already Caused, Progressives Are Intent on Extending and Worsening the Pain THIS WEEK, THE IMPACTS OF DEMOCRATS’ SHUTDOWN GOT EVEN WORSE FOR SERVICEMEMBERS, FEDERAL WORKERS, AND TRAVELERS“US soldiers in Germany may not receive their November pay and have been given food bank advice as a government shutdown entered a record 37th day. Around 37,000 US soldiers stationed in the country face uncertainty over November salary payments.” (Sky News: US soldiers given food bank advice and could go without pay amid government shutdown – 11/6/25)“More than 650,000 federal workers have been furloughed since the shutdown began, and an additional 600,000 have been forced to work without pay. Many of those workers are struggling to make ends meet as bills come due after two missed paychecks.” (The Washington Post: Senate Democrats debate path to ending government shutdown – 11/5/25)“With Thanksgiving just weeks away, hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have been furloughed or forced to work without pay are becoming new faces at food banks and other charities.” (CNN: Food banks face a ‘perfect storm’ of surging demand as shutdown drags on – 10/30/25)“[F]ood banks and other charities across the country face a bleak outlook as they head into a busy holiday season. More than a dozen large and small charitable nonprofits told CNN they have exceeded their ability to help and warned that the level of support they can provide will fall far short.” (CNN: Food banks face a ‘perfect storm’ of surging demand as shutdown drags on – 10/30/25)“U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Wednesday that he would order a 10% cut in flights at 40 major U.S. airports, citing air traffic control safety concerns as a government shutdown hit a record 36th day.” (Reuters: Exclusive: US orders 10% flights cut at major US airports due to shutdown – 11/6/25)“In a call with major U.S. carriers, the FAA said capacity reductions at the airports would start at 4%, rising to 5% Saturday and 6% Sunday, before hitting 10% next week, industry sources told Reuters. The FAA also plans to exempt international flights from the cuts.” (Reuters: Exclusive: US orders 10% flights cut at major US airports due to shutdown – 11/6/25)“The drastic plan sent airlines scrambling to make significant reductions in flights in just 36 hours and passengers flooded airline customer service hotlines with concerns about air travel in the coming days.” (Reuters: Exclusive: US orders 10% flights cut at major US airports due to shutdown – 11/6/25)“Tens of thousands of flights have been delayed since the shutdown began because of widespread air traffic control shortages. Airlines say at least 3.2 million travelers have already been impacted by air traffic control shortages.” (Reuters: Exclusive: US orders 10% flights cut at major US airports due to shutdown – 11/6/25)“The U.S. economy will lose between $7 billion and $14 billion because of the federal government shutdown, according to a new report released Wednesday by Congress’s nonpartisan bookkeeper.Federal workers missing paychecks and the interruption of food benefits for low-income Americans are expected to temporarily lower gross domestic product by one to two percentage points in the fourth quarter of 2025, the Congressional Budget Office reported.” (The Washington Post: Report: Government shutdown will cost the economy up to $14 billion – 10/29/25)EVEN WITH THESE MOUNTING CONSEQUENCES, PROGRESSIVES ARE DETERMINED TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT CLOSED FOR A SUPPOSED ELECTORAL ADVANTAGE“[A]s food aid remains uncertain, flight delays mount and federal workers continue to miss paychecks, some moderate Democrats are looking for a way out of the impasse.” (The Washington Post: Senate Democrats debate path to ending government shutdown – 11/5/25)But “[s]ome of the chamber’s liberal senators are urging their colleagues not to agree to reopen the government without a concrete agreement to extend the health care subsidies, rather than a promise to hold a vote.” (The Washington Post: Senate Democrats debate path to ending government shutdown – 11/5/25)“The party is splintered over whether to cut a deal to end the shutdown or hold out even longer to force concessions from Republicans.” (Axios: Senate Dems splinter on shutdown after election success – 11/5/25)“Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) crashed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's press conference Wednesday and warned against agreeing to fund the government without guaranteed extensions of health care tax credits.” (Axios: Senate Dems splinter on shutdown after election success – 11/5/25)“Sanders is part of a group of Senate Democrats who vehemently do not want the party to cave on the shutdown. The group is comprised of at least nine Democrats, multiple sources said.” (Axios: Senate Dems splinter on shutdown after election success – 11/5/25)“If the Democrats cave now it would be a betrayal of the millions of Americans who have fought and died for democracy and our constitution.” – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)“I think there will be some pretty substantial damage done to a Democratic brand that has been rehabilitated, if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop fighting… The 2026 election is just 12 months away. And if we surrender without having gotten anything, and we cause a lot of folks in this country who had started to believe in the Democratic Party to retreat again, I worry that it will be hard to sort of get them back up off the mat in time for next fall's election cycle.” – Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)“There would be hell to pay if Senate Democrats don't let events play out.” – Anonymous House Democrat“Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said ending the shutdown without a commitment from President Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson would ‘be a betrayal of all we’ve been fighting to uphold.’” (Politico: Democrats gird for a longer shutdown fight after election romp – 11/5/25)DEMOCRATS HAVE YIELDED ALL CONTROL TO LEFT-WING PROGRESSIVE GROUPS THAT WANT TO KEEP THE PAIN GOING“It's not just fellow congressional Democrats issuing these warnings — it's also the liberal grassroots groups that have held significant sway over Senate Democrats' shutdown maneuverings.” (Axios: Dems warned of "hell to pay" if they cut "weak" post-election shutdown deal – 11/5/25)“A series of talking points circulating in progressive Democratic circles is claiming victory for the election results, adding that their fight against Trump and for health care is why Democrats can’t cave against Republican wishes, according to a copy that was obtained by NOTUS.” (NOTUS: Democrats’ Election Night Sweep Has Emboldened Them in the Shutdown Fight – 11/5/25)“Off Capitol Hill, progressive advocacy groups and Democratic Senate candidates on Wednesday ratcheted up pressure on senators to keep holding the line after the ballot-box blowout.” (Politico: Democrats gird for a longer shutdown fight after election romp – 11/5/25)“Today, Democrats in Congress' task at hand is clearer than ever: hold the line against any budget that raises health care costs or gives Trump's reckless agenda another inch.” – Indivisible National Advocacy Director Andrew O’Neill“Moderate Senate Democrats who are looking for an off-ramp right now are completely missing the moment if, on the heels of last night's election landslide, they are entertaining the idea of capitulating to Trump and the Republicans in the fight to protect Americans' health care.” –MoveOn Executive Director Katie BethellPrintEmailTweetPreviousTHE NEWSROOMSENATE RESOURCESABOUT LEADER THUNEFacebookXInstagram
