Thune says he’s “optimistic” government shutdown could end this week

John Thune, the Senate Majority Leader, told reporters he is “optimistic” that the ongoing government shutdown could be resolved this week. The shutdown, which began on October 1, 2025, has dragged on as Congress fails to pass a full funding resolution. (Reuters)

What Thune said

Walking to the Senate floor, Thune was asked whether he was optimistic that a deal to reopen the government could happen this week. He replied simply: “I’m optimistic.”
When pressed about his confidence, he chuckled and responded: “Don’t push it.”

The backdrop

• The federal budget authority expired at the start of October, triggering the shutdown. (Wikipedia)
• The Senate has voted repeatedly on a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) passed by the House, but each time the bill has failed to secure the 60-vote threshold necessary in the Senate. (Reuters)
• Thune and other Senate Republicans maintain that reopening the government should come first, with policy issues like health-insurance subsidy extensions settled afterwards. (AP News)
• Key deadlines (such as benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and federal workforce pay) are putting added pressure on lawmakers to act. (CBS News)

Why it matters

If the shutdown stretches further, it could surpass the previous record for longest U.S. federal government shutdown (35 days in 2018-19). The longer it goes, the greater the economic, social, and institutional damage: furloughed workers, frozen benefits, and delayed services. Thune’s public optimism signals the pressure is mounting.
Moreover, from a systems/awareness viewpoint, the recurring failure to pass funding highlights how procedural gridlock translates into material hardship for everyday people.

What to watch this week

• Will the Senate schedule and bring up the House-passed CR for another vote this week? Thune’s optimism suggests the GOP will push again.
• Are there enough moderate Democrats willing to break ranks and vote to reopen the government? A shift of just a handful could change the arithmetic.
• Will the White House or House leadership change tactics, perhaps by offering concessions or shifting from “clean” CR language?
• How will the public and media reaction evolve? The longer the shutdown continues, the more visible the consequences become, influencing leverage.

Bottom line

Senate Leader John Thune says he’s optimistic the shutdown could end this week. Whether that optimism turns into a vote and a deal remains uncertain. But with deadlines pressing and the cost of delay rising, the window for resolution is getting narrower.

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