Senate Majority Leader John Thune emphasized the need for a temporary measure to reopen federal agencies before moving forward with full-year spending bills, as bipartisan discussions intensify to end the ongoing 30-day government shutdown. Thune, addressing reporters on Thursday, stated that passing a package of larger spending bills could take days, or even weeks. “Even with consent, moving those bills across the floor will take time. We must first reopen the government, then proceed with a normal appropriations process,” he remarked.

Recent discussions among rank-and-file members on both sides have explored ways to advance fiscal 2026 spending bills. Some appropriators have proposed that passing a set of full-year bills might demonstrate good faith and lead to a quicker resolution. However, both Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed this strategy, with Johnson emphasizing at a news conference that their primary goal is to restart government operations without delay. “Any deviation from this focus is merely political gamesmanship,” Johnson declared.

Republicans have outlined a plan to expedite two key spending packages once the government resumes operations. The initial package would include funding for Agriculture-FDA, Military Construction-VA, and the Legislative Branch, followed by a second package that would cover Defense, Labor-HHS, and potentially include Transportation-HUD along with Commerce-Justice-Science funding.

Despite these proposals, the exact timeline for resolving the shutdown remains uncertain. Republicans are hopeful that Democrats will agree to end the shutdown by next week. Thune suggested that the off-year elections on Tuesday might influence the dynamics in Capitol Hill, potentially facilitating an agreement.

However, achieving a bipartisan appropriations agreement does not address the primary concern of Democrats, which involves extending expiring health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Thune has proposed allowing a vote on the ACA subsidies and a meeting with President Donald Trump as potential solutions. Although Democrats find this offer insufficient, Thune mentioned the possibility of establishing a working group to tackle the ACA subsidy issue after the government reopens. While he expressed reservations about such "gangs," Thune acknowledged the interest from both parties and openness to exploring this path.

As discussions continue, the pressure to resolve the shutdown and address key health care funding remains a critical concern for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.