The Senate on Thursday rejected dueling partisan bills to pay federal workers during the government shutdown, with both Republicans and Democrats deflecting blame as many employees are set to miss their first full paycheck at the end of this week. Republicans objected as Democrats proposed a voice vote on their legislation to pay all federal workers and prevent President Donald Trump's administration from mass firings. Democrats then voted down a Republican bill to pay employees who are working and not furloughed. The back and forth on day 23 of the government shutdown comes as the two parties are at a protracted impasse.

A new poll finds most U.S. adults are worried about health care becoming more expensive. That comes as Americans make decisions about next year's health coverage and a government shutdown keeps future health costs in limbo for millions. The AP-NORC poll shows about 6 in 10 Americans are "extremely" or "very" concerned about their health costs going up in the next year, a worry that extends across age groups and includes people with and without health insurance. The findings show that many Americans are feeling vulnerable to spiking health care costs, with some expressing concerns about whether they'll have coverage at all.

As the government shutdown enters its fourth week, President Donald Trump is welcoming Senate Republicans for lunch at the White House. It's not for urgent talks on how to end the shutdown, but a celebratory display of unity as they refuse to negotiate on Democratic demands for health care funds. Trump is praising GOP leaders by name. But Senate Democrats are also expressing confidence in their strategy to keep voting against a House-passed bill that would reopen the government until Trump and other Republicans engage them. Democrats want to extend health care subsidies that are expiring.

Senate Democrats are rejecting for the 10th time a stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government. They are insisting they won't back away from demands that Congress take up health care benefits. The repetition of votes on the funding bill has become a daily drumbeat in Congress. It underscores how intractable the situation has become as the vote has at times been the only item on the agenda for the Senate floor. Senate Republicans also held a vote to proceed to a bill to fund the Defense Department and possibly several other areas of government. But Democrats almost all voted against the procedure.

As the federal government shutdown enters a second week, there's no discernible endgame in sight. While no negotiations, at least publicly, are underway, quiet talks are emerging. This comes amid signs of political discomfort. Federal worker union leaders are pushing Congress to do its job. Military troops are preparing to go without paychecks. Flight delays are happening nationwide. The Republicans who have majority control in Congress believe they have the upper hand politically, as they fend off Democratic demands to quickly fund health insurance subsidies as part of any plan to end the shutdown. But Democrats are also dug in, convinced that Americans are on their side in the fight to prevent the looming health care price spikes.

Democrats believe health care is an issue that resonates with a majority of Americans as they demand an extension of subsidies in exchange for their votes to reopen the shuttered U.S. government. But it's also one of the most intractable issues in Congress and a real compromise is unlikely to be easy. There are some Republicans who want to extend the higher subsidies, which were first put in place in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. But many GOP lawmakers are firmly opposed to any extension. With both sides digging in, the shutdown could go on for some time and leave federal workers without their regular paychecks. And the White House is now suggesting that they may block back pay if the government reopens.

Lawmakers are showing few signs of meaningful negotiations to break an impasse on reopening the federal government as the shutdown drags through its sixth day. Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday "there's nothing for us to negotiate," while Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says the "time is now" to work out a deal on health care. Meanwhile, the White House clarified President Donald Trump's remarks Sunday about the firing of federal workers. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was talking about the furloughs happening across the federal government.

Speaker Johnson is canceling House votes for next week as Republicans pressure Senate to accept funding bill and end shutdown. Meanwhile, the Senate fails to advance a Republican bill that would reopen the government. Most Democratic senators are voting against the bill as they demand that Congress take up health care legislation. The vote failed 54-44. That's well short of the 60 needed to end a filibuster and pass the legislation. There are few signs of any real progress towards ending the congressional standoff. Democrats are demanding Congress take up an extension to health care benefits. Republicans are trying to wear them down with repeated votes on a bill that would reopen the government mostly at current spending levels.