REPORT: Key Senate Dems On Verge Of Cracking, Ending Government Shutdown

After nearly three weeks of gridlock in Washington, new signs suggest that moderate Senate Democrats may finally be ready to break ranks and vote to reopen the federal government. With public frustration mounting and economic pressures intensifying, the long-running standoff that began October 1 could be nearing its end.

The shutdown began after Senate Democrats blocked a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) that would have kept the government funded without additional spending measures. Instead, Democratic leadership pushed for a $1.5 trillion package stuffed with progressive priorities, triggering a funding freeze that’s left hundreds of thousands of Americans in limbo.

But the political winds may now be shifting. Following last weekend’s “No Kings” rallies — massive progressive protests that swept major U.S. cities — White House officials believe the momentum that once energized the left is starting to fade. “There’s sort of cracks in the Schumer armor,” said Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council. “I think the Schumer Shutdown is likely to end sometime this week.”

Hassett’s remarks on CNBC came amid growing reports that key moderates such as Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Angus King (I-ME) are increasingly uncomfortable with how the shutdown is playing out. The longer it drags on, the more voters — including independents and moderate Democrats — appear to be blaming their party’s leadership.

The effects of the shutdown are being felt nationwide. Roughly 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay. Military families are feeling the strain, TSA lines are growing longer by the day, and air travel disruptions have soared — with more than 53,000 flight delays tied to staffing shortages.

Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, reaffirmed that “Americans struggling is not good,” signaling the administration’s intent to stay firm on a clean funding bill while framing Democrats as the party responsible for unnecessary hardship.

Meanwhile, business leaders are sounding the alarm about the growing economic fallout. Tourism and transportation sectors are reporting losses, while consumer confidence continues to slip. These factors, combined with the political optics of a stalled Congress, have created a perfect storm for restive Senate Democrats who fear lasting electoral damage.

Reports from Capitol Hill suggest a quiet but significant shift within the Democratic caucus. Shaheen, one of the first to publicly question her party’s tactics, reportedly told colleagues that voters in New Hampshire are growing weary of “Washington games.” Similar concerns are said to be circulating among moderate Democrats up for reelection in 2026, particularly those in swing states.

Hassett noted that “a lot of our friends in the Senate have said that it was just bad optics for Democrats to open the government before the ‘No Kings’ rally.” But now that the weekend demonstrations have passed, he argued, moderates may finally have political cover to act. “There’s a shot that this week things will come together, and very quickly the moderate Democrats will move forward and get us an open government,” Hassett said.

Behind the scenes, a handful of senators from both parties — including Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Susan Collins (R-ME) — have floated a potential compromise that would temporarily reopen the government under a clean CR while setting the stage for future negotiations on healthcare subsidies and other issues dear to progressives.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has so far refused to engage with Democrats’ demands, saying Republicans will not negotiate “under hostage conditions.” That hardline stance has put the onus squarely on Democrats to make the next move.

If even a handful of moderate Democrats cross over, it could hand President Trump a major political win — and fracture the image of Democratic unity that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has fought to maintain.

“The White House is going to have to look very closely along with Russ Vought at stronger measures that we can take to bring them to the table,” Hassett warned, referring to the Office of Management and Budget director.

For now, the administration continues to ramp up pressure by cutting off billions in funding to Democrat-led states for transportation and renewable energy projects — a move that some view as both a fiscal measure and a political message. As the standoff nears a breaking point, the question isn’t whether the shutdown can last much longer — but whether Democrats are willing to take the political hit to keep it going.