What to know on Day 15 of the government shutdown:
- The Senate failed to advance a House-passed GOP bill to fund the government for the ninth time on Wednesday, the 15th day of the government shutdown.
- The vote attracted no additional support from Democrats, who are demanding an extension of health care tax credits in exchange for their votes. Republicans need to convince five more senators to cross the aisle, a number that has remained unchanged since the start of the funding lapse.
- Members of the military were set to be paid on Wednesday despite the shutdown, after the Trump administration tapped unused research and development funds to cover their checks. But House Speaker Mike Johnson warned that the move was a “temporary fix,” and that troops risked missing their next paychecks at the end of the month if the shutdown continues.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he will attempt to advance an individual year-long appropriations bill to fund the Pentagon on Thursday, with the possibility of attaching other funding bills. The legislation would need 60 votes to advance, and Democrats have not said how they plan to vote.
