On the 29th day of the U.S. government shutdown, senators signaled cautious optimism as bipartisan, rank-and-file talks showed new momentum. Lawmakers pointed to looming deadlines—covering military pay and a potential freeze of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for 42 million Americans—as pressure points to break the impasse.
Sen. John Thune said Wednesday that discussions among rank-and-file senators have “significantly ramped up” and could be a “harbinger of something to come.” The tone marked one of the first signs in weeks that a path to reopening the government may be forming.
Still, not all lawmakers see a breakthrough as imminent. Sen. Thom Tillis said he has not seen evidence that conversations have advanced into formal negotiations capable of ending the stalemate. Sen. Lindsey Graham expressed hope that the shutdown could be resolved next week, reflecting guarded optimism but no clear agreement yet.
The accelerating talks come as practical consequences draw near. Military pay deadlines and a potential freeze in SNAP benefits, which help 42 million Americans buy groceries, are sharpening the urgency for action and increasing pressure on both parties to find a compromise.
With the shutdown nearing a month, attention now turns to whether informal Senate discussions can coalesce into a concrete framework. Market watchers and affected agencies will be looking for signs of a deal as deadlines approach in the coming days.