The U.S. government shutdown is caught in a range-bound battle, with the Democrats refusing to compromise and the Republicans passing the buck.

On October 10, Republican and Democratic congressional leaders continued to blame each other for the U.S. government "shutdown," with neither side making concessions from their respective positions and talking points. This deadlock has entered its ninth day. The focus of the shutdown deadlock is on healthcare and political maneuvering. Since before the "shutdown" began, House Speaker Johnson has consistently refused to call lawmakers back, insisting that the House has completed its work by passing a temporary funding bill that would reopen the government until November 21. However, some Republican colleagues have begun to question his decision to keep lawmakers away from Washington. Representatives Kevin Kelly from a swing district in California and Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia have both called for a return to Capitol Hill next week. Meanwhile, since funding ran out on October 1, there have been no signs of a resolution to the deadlock to reopen the government. At the leadership level, Republicans have refused to engage with Democrats. Republicans are not negotiating with the opposing leadership but instead hope to win over a handful of ordinary Democratic senators to support their temporary spending bill. Some have suggested passing individual funding bills one by one, but this would be a long and arduous process in the Senate. Republicans need five Democrats to join them to support their temporary bill to end the "shutdown."