Deep cracks are forming within the Democratic Party as several Democrats have moved to negotiate a deal with Republicans to reopen the government, undermining Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) shutdown agenda.
A handful of Democrats have entered talks on ending Schumer’s shutdown, as he continues to hold out for concessions from Republicans.
As the costs of the shutdown continue to mount, some Democrats, including Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Gary Peters (D-MI), are working on a deal to end the impasse, The Hill reported.
The shutdown became the longest in U.S. history this week as the impacts continued to spread, with funding lapsed for food stamps and millions of federal workers missing paychecks.
Republicans need at least eight Democrats to cross the aisle in order to break the 60-vote filibuster.
For weeks, only three Democrats have voted to end the shutdown consistently, and they are Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Angus King (I-ME), an independent who caucuses with the party.