Earlier this week, the government shutdown entered its fourth week. As more and more Americans go without pay, Senate Democrats shut down Republicans’ 12th attempt to reopen the government.

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From Fox News:

The government shutdown meandered into its 22nd day with no end in sight after a 12th GOP attempt to reopen the government was stalled and then blocked by Senate Democrats on Wednesday afternoon.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his caucus kneecapped Republicans’ bid to reopen the government for the 12th time in a 54-46 vote where Republicans needed at least 60 votes to advance the measure. The latest failed vote comes as Schumer has demanded another meeting with President Donald Trump and on the heels of an almost 24-hour filibuster by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore, that pushed the vote late into Wednesday.

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Little has changed in the upper chamber since the shutdown began. Schumer and the Senate Democratic caucus demand that there be a real, ironclad deal to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies, while Senate Republicans remain adamant that there is no path forward available on the matter until the government is reopened.

House Republicans passed a budget last month, but Democrats have thus far killed it every time it’s come up for a vote in the Senate. Congressional Democrats initially demanded Republicans add a permanent extension to the enhanced Obamacare premium tax credits to the budget, as well as guardrails on President Trump’s ability to claw back congressionally approved funding. Over time, both Republicans and Democrats have only dug in their heels.

As the shutdown continues, more and more Americans are being forced to go without pay. Recently, Republican lawmakers sought to pass a bill that would have ensured certain federal workers, including members of the military, were paid in a timely manner. The legislation, however, was shut down by Democrats.

From The Hill:

Democrats blocked the Shutdown Fairness Act of 2025, sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), in a mostly party-line 54-45 vote. It needed 60 votes to advance.

Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) crossed party lines to vote in favor of the measure.

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The legislation would pay service members as well as employees who are determined by agency heads to be “excepted” from the shutdown or who are “performing emergency work.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the legislation would have provided pay for over 300 congressional employees. This includes Capitol Police, who the Hill notes worked overnight to keep the Senate floor open during Senator Merkley’s filibuster.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer attacked the legislation, arguing it would give the Trump administration authority to choose which agencies and departments should be opened or closed. Senator Johnson challenged this characterization, arguing that the federal law clearly states which federal employees are essential and therefore would have been paid.

As the shutdown continues, let’s ask God to provide for those working without pay!

How are you praying about the shutdown? Share your prayers and scriptures below.

(Excerpts from Fox News and The Hill. Photo Credit: usarmyband – https://www.flickr.com/photos/23690396@N02/53992966975/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=170091877)