The Senate is in session on Friday, but Majority Leader John Thune has not given a clear indication of what direction they will take with the votes, raising a number of questions about the Senate’s schedule on Friday and this weekend as the shutdown progresses.
A vote has not yet been scheduled on the short-term government funding bill that the Senate was expected to pass on Friday. And while Thune suggested Friday afternoon that he might consider calling votes on other bills adjacent to government funding, such as Republican Sen. Ron Johnson’s bill that would pay federal workers currently reporting to work, votes on those have not been scheduled either.
“Well, right now we have to re-engage the Democrats, so I can’t say what’s in and what’s out. I think that will depend on whether or not the Democrats want to go yes,” Thune said. “I thought we were on the right track, we had given them everything they wanted or asked for, and at some point, I was going to say they had to take yes for an answer. They were going in that direction, and yesterday, it all went wrong.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks to reporters on day 37 of the government shutdown, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Nov. 6, 2025.
Saúl Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
While the timing of the votes and the details of which bills may be brought to the floor are not entirely clear at this time, Thune said today that he would expect the Senate to be here this weekend. Thune said another vote to reopen the government would be held on Friday or Saturday, but only when Democrats show a willingness to support a package of bills Thune said he has been negotiating with Democrats.
“Our members will be advised to be available if, in fact, a vote is necessary, and we’ll see what happens and whether, over the course of the next few days, Democrats find a way to reengage,” Thune said.
-Allison Pecorin of ABC News
