A previously unified Democratic front in the U.S. Senate began to splinter this week as three Democrats broke ranks to support a Republican-led proposal to end the ongoing government shutdown, now in its seventh day. The shift comes as the deadline nears for federal workers to miss paychecks, increasing pressure on lawmakers to resolve the impasse.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has struggled to secure the 60 votes needed to pass a short-term funding bill, falling short with a 55–45 vote. The support of Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Angus King (I-ME), who caucuses with Democrats, marks a potential turning point in the deadlock.

Fetterman, who backed the bill from the start, called the shutdown “not a game,” emphasizing that both parties should prioritize country over politics. Cortez Masto, initially opposed to the GOP-led measure, shifted her position, arguing that Democrats should not trade one group’s suffering for another’s by continuing the shutdown.

King described his decision to support the funding bill as “one of the most difficult” of his Senate career, citing concern over handing more authority to figures in the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the only Republican to oppose the measure, consistent with his long-standing views on federal spending.

President Trump, in comments to the press, warned that if the shutdown continues for another four to five days, his administration may begin layoffs and permanent cuts across multiple federal agencies. He also hinted at broader budget reductions and program eliminations, though offered no specifics.

While no deal has yet been reached, the emergence of bipartisan support for a clean funding bill signals a potential path forward — though partisan tensions remain high and the window to avoid long-term disruption is narrowing.