WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2025 — Senators continued negotiations Thursday to resolve the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 37th day, with Majority Leader John Thune saying Republicans are waiting to hear from Democrats on a GOP proposal to end the impasse.
Thune told reporters that the Senate could work through the weekend if there’s a “path forward to vote,” emphasizing that “it’s up to [Democrats].” Senate Democrats are currently holding a lunch meeting in the Capitol to discuss their next steps (CBS News).
Thune did not outline specific details of the latest offer, but recent discussions have centered on tying an extension of government funding to three longer-term appropriations bills, along with a Republican promise to hold a future vote on extending health care tax credits.
According to Democratic senators, the proposal has also included talks about reversing some of the Trump administration’s layoffs of federal employees during the shutdown.
However, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not commit to a vote on health care subsidies in the lower chamber — reinforcing concerns among Democrats that even a successful Senate vote could stall in the House (CBS News).
The continuing negotiations come as the Trump administration announced plans to cut flights by 10% at 40 major airports beginning Friday, a move expected to create widespread air travel disruptions.
Collins: Federal Workers Fired During Shutdown “Should Be Recalled”
Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine who has been part of bipartisan discussions, said she believes federal employees terminated during the shutdown should be reinstated.
“I believe that federal employees who have been furloughed should be paid back pay for that period. I also believe that those who are RIFed during the shutdown should be recalled,” Collins said.
When asked whether recalling those employees would be part of a final deal, Collins replied, “We’re still negotiating that language.” (CBS News)
Senate Democrats Huddle Amid Waning Optimism
As negotiations continued, Senate Democrats gathered for a private lunch meeting near the chamber to discuss their response to the GOP proposal.
Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat involved in earlier bipartisan talks, expressed declining optimism about the direction of discussions.
“I’m feeling less positive about the conversations,” Peters told reporters. (CBS News)
Kaine: Reversing Trump Layoffs “Being Discussed”
Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, who represents thousands of federal workers, confirmed that reversing some of the Trump administration’s layoffs is now part of the shutdown negotiations.
“That has been my principal issue, which is to reverse the RIFs, and no more RIFs going forward,” Kaine said, referring to reductions in force, the government’s term for layoffs. “That is something that’s being discussed. I don’t have any commitments.”
Kaine added that Republican leadership has engaged on the issue, describing the negotiations as evolving from a “health care discussion” into a broader debate about protecting federal jobs.
“In the last few days, it’s also become a discussion about what I’ve been calling the moratorium on mischief,” Kaine said. “That is now a significant part of the discussion.”
The Road Ahead
With negotiations still fluid, senators from both parties have left open the possibility of working through the weekend to finalize a deal. But without a clear agreement between House and Senate leaders, federal workers, contractors, and travelers face continued uncertainty.
The shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — has left hundreds of thousands of employees without pay, disrupted public services, and now threatens to impact national air travel as flight reductions begin Friday (CBS News).
By Alan He and Kaia Hubbard
Source: CBS News Live Updates on the Government Shutdown