STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Democrats and Republicans have made no progress toward ending the federal government shutdown.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
They're barely even talking, even as hundreds of thousands of federal workers missed a paycheck on Friday. Over the weekend, a pop-up window on the official USDA site said food stamp benefits will run dry on November 1. The site, which is funded by the taxpayers, repeated partisan Republican talking points blaming Democrats for the shutdown.
INSKEEP: NPR congressional reporter Sam Gringlas is covering nothing that's happening to end this shutdown, although there are various efforts. Sam, good morning.
SAM GRINGLAS, BYLINE: Hey there.
INSKEEP: OK. So would we expect that federal workers will go unpaid until the shutdown ends, given that the Senate has turned aside a couple of efforts to change that?
GRINGLAS: Well, that is possible, but the Senate could try again this week. But Republicans want a measure to pay only employees working without pay, like TSA agents. Democrats want to get a paycheck to all federal employees and also block the White House from doing more layoffs. That last part is going to be a nonstarter for a lot of Republicans, though Republican Senator Ron Johnson did say he's open to something more inclusive.
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RON JOHNSON: My bill is obviously targeted to the people we're forcing to work, but I'm not necessarily opposed to paying furloughed workers as well. That's something we can talk about, OK?
GRINGLAS: Democrats say only paying workers who are considered essential basically lets the White House decide who gets paid and who doesn't. And they're already doing that to some extent, like repurposing funds to pay active-duty military.
INSKEEP: Does any of this amount to progress toward actually running the government in a normal way?
GRINGLAS: So these bills allowed both parties to say the other blocked pay for federal employees. I mean, you had Republicans calling their measure the Shutdown Fairness Act and Democrats naming theirs the True Shutdown Fairness Act. And that kind of blame game has really been a refrain throughout this shutdown without much movement, though it was notable that three Democrats voted for the Republican bill to pay some workers, including Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia, who's the only incumbent Democrat up for reelection in a state Trump won.
INSKEEP: Interesting that some people are thinking about their reelections, perhaps, but is anything here likely to disrupt the impasse?
GRINGLAS: I've heard some Republicans predict Thanksgiving will be a turning point. When Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy spoke alongside House Republicans last week, he talked a lot about air traffic controllers working without pay.
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SEAN DUFFY: We are all about safety. But again, I can't guarantee you that your flight's going to be on time. I can't guarantee you that your flight's not going to be canceled.
GRINGLAS: We've also heard many states announce they're going to run out of money next week for food assistance benefits known as SNAP.
INSKEEP: I guess we should note - frequently, when there's a government shutdown, the parties are reversed. It is the Democrats saying, come on - just open the government and we'll negotiate. And it's Republicans making demands. This time, it's Democrats making a demand and Republicans saying no to the whole thing. What makes Democrats think Republicans would change course?
GRINGLAS: So just to remember, Democrats have been holding out on supporting a funding bill until Republicans agree to extend expiring health insurance subsidies. Democrats think that expiration date is going to be harder to brush aside after this week, when open enrollment begins for plans through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. And many Americans could see their premiums soar. Still, some Democrats say President Trump needs to get involved to break this stalemate. But he is in Asia this week, so that is not going to happen any time soon.
INSKEEP: NPR congressional reporter Sam Gringlas. Thanks so much.
GRINGLAS: Thanks, Steve. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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