1:09Senate Majority Leader John Thune addresses news reporters outside his office at the US Capitol, on the second day of the US government standstill in Washington, October 2, 2025. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
As the government shutdown entered its second day on Thursday with no resolution in sight, Senate Majority Leader John Thune kept criticizing Democrats, asserting they are "engaging in a futile effort" regarding the impasse.
"I understand that my Democrat counterparts are facing pressure from elements of their far-left constituency, but they are engaging in a losing battle here," Thune stated on the Senate floor Thursday.
The Senate will not conduct votes on Thursday — and even though the Senate floor is available, the chamber isn’t voting due to Yom Kippur. The upcoming votes are slated for Friday.
Thune mentioned it is "improbable" that the Senate will hold weekend votes should a Friday vote on government funding fail.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Republican representing Louisiana, speaks during a press conference outside of his office at the US Capitol on the second day of the US government shutdown in Washington, October 2, 2025.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
"They will have a fourth opportunity tomorrow to cast a vote to reopen the government," Thune remarked about Democrats. "If it doesn’t pass, then we'll provide them the weekend to contemplate, we'll return and vote on Monday."
Thune is spearheading efforts to draw off hesitant Democrats to back the GOP's House-supported seven-week temporary funding measure that would permit the government to function.
Thune expressed his belief that regular Democrats will ultimately dissent from Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to approve a short-term funding measure to restart the government.
The American flag flying over the Capitol is lit up by the early morning light on the initial day of a government shutdown, in Washington, Oct. 1, 2025.J. Scott Applewhite/AP
"I believe many rank-and-file Democrats are regretting permitting Schumer to trap them into this dilemma," Thune commented in an appearance on Fox News' "Hannity" Wednesday evening.
Thune stated Thursday that he will "see what transpires" when questioned about discussions with Democrats.
"Until they secure eight or ideally more, 10 or more individuals, who want to decide they want to put an end to the government closure, I'm uncertain if this leads anywhere," he remarked.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks to reporters outside of his office at the US Capitol, on the second day of the US government shutdown in Washington, October 2, 2025.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Democrats remained unified Wednesday afternoon to thwart, for the third occasion, a short-term funding bill proposed by Republicans. Democrats are emphasizing that any resolution must deal with their needs on healthcare before they agree to advance it.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt informed journalists at the White House that the Trump administration, including President Donald Trump, are maintaining discussions with lawmakers on Capitol Hill intending to "urge Democrats" to consent and endorse the GOP short-term continuing resolution.
“The president, vice president, the entire team here will continue to labor and converse with members on the Hill in an attempt to reach a resolution to try to encourage Democrats to summon the bravery to take the appropriate action,” Leavitt stated.
On Fox News' "America's Newsroom" Thursday morning, Leavitt said those conversations were happening specifically with "moderate Democrats and additionally with allied Senate Republicans who maintain positive relationships with these moderates."
Nevertheless, blame allocation persists as Democrats and Republicans exchange fault for the shutdown.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks to the media at the White House in Washington, October 2, 2025.Bonnie Cash/EPA/Shutterstock
On Thursday afternoon, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries claimed Republicans are accountable for the shutdown, saying Democrats are willing to be seated for negotiations to "discover a direction forward to fund the government."
He said Republicans have displayed "no inclination" in meeting to deliberate matters, adding that neither he nor Schumer have taken a phone call about negotiations.
"They must come to the table. We are able to go back to the White House, or they could come up here, and we can conduct a conversation to conclude this shutdown," Jeffries said.
Earlier Thursday, Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Democrats and Schumer for the continuous shutdown, naming their position "selfish" and "deplorable."
"I don't have anything to negotiate," Johnson said, following his statement that the House submitted a clear continuing resolution to the Senate that finances the government for seven weeks.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks to reporters at the Capitol, Oct. 1, 2025, in Washington.Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Schumer has responded to Republican disapproval, communicating in a social media post that "Republicans shuttered the government because they are unable to make the effort to protect health care for Americans all across the nation."
The casting of blame is also spreading online. Apart from the public pronouncements on federal webpages accusing the "radical left" for the government shutdown, the Office of Management and Budget motivated federal employees to produce out-of-office email notifications condemning “Democrat senators” for causing the government shutdown, sources reported to ABC News.
Trump revealed he is having a meeting planned with OMB Director Russ Vought on Thursday to ascertain which agencies he "recommends" be cut — either for a short period or for good.
Last week, the Trump administration threatened broad layoffs of certain federal workers amidst the shutdown. Vought cautioned House Republicans on a conference call Wednesday that the administration will initiate terminating federal employees in the next "day or two," numerous sources informed ABC News.
Leavitt communicated to reporters at the White House Thursday morning that the threat of mass firings and bringing to an end federal programs is "very real" and there will likely be "thousands" of federal employees laid off amid the government closure.
It wasn’t quite yet apparent which departments and agencies may first be affected, although the Trump administration has expressed that it would go after projects in Democratic states — including putting on hold $18 billion in infrastructure funding for New York City and cancelling $8 billion for energy projects in 16 states that voted with Democrats in the last presidential election.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks to the media at the White House in Washington, October 2, 2025.Will Oliver/EPA/Shutterstock
"We plan to examine agencies that don’t line up … with the administration’s values, agencies that we consider a misuse of taxpayer funds," Leavitt stated Thursday morning.
Trump wrote on social media late Wednesday evening that he desires Republicans to employ the shutdown as a "chance" to conserve billions of dollars by eliminating "dead weight, waste, and fraud."
"I struggle to believe the Radical Left Democrats presented me with this unparalleled opportunity," Trump stated in a Thursday social media post concerning cuts during the shutdown.
ABC News' Karen Travers and Michelle Stoddart played a role in this report.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
