Fear of crossing progressives is keeping moderate Democrats from supporting Republican measures to reopen the federal government, according to a new report.
The federal government has been shut down since Oct.1. A House-passed bill to reopen it through Nov. 21 has failed multiple votes in the Senate, where 60 votes are required for passage, meaning at least seven Democrats must join the GOP.
The House bill has failed in the Senate 11 times, most recently Monday night, as noted by CBS News.
Moderates who might join the GOP to pass the bill are keeping a low profile in the aftermath of the “No Kings” protests, according to The Hill.
“People are going to get hammered” if they side with Republicans, one Democratic senator whose name was withheld said.
“Are there enough Democrats to join Republicans to reopen the government? Not in the near term,” the senator said.
Another Senate source said the courage to open the government is lacking.
“We would have enough votes” to end the shutdown “if people were not terrified of getting the guillotine,” the source said.
To date, Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada have supported the bill, as has Sen. Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuss with the Democrats.
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire recently joined the GOP in a defense bill vote.
Senate Democrats: “We can’t end our shutdown because we’re scared.” pic.twitter.com/T1D67vylm6
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 20, 2025
“I don’t think the leadership is talking to each other and I don’t see how we get a deal unless the people in charge decide they’re going to sit down and negotiate,” Shaheen said. “People in the rank-and-file are doing a lot of talking. It would be nice if our leaders were also talking.”
One Democratic insider noted that the plight of Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, who will seek re-election in 2026, illustrates why Democrats are cautious.
“His calculus is, ‘Do I vote to open the government up and get crushed and can’t raise a single dollar of low-dollar money or do I vote to shut the government down and get $3 million [from online fundraising]?’” the anonymous source said.
On Day 20 of the government shutdown, Senate Democrats continue to hold the government hostage and refuse to act at the expense of the American people they were elected to serve. pic.twitter.com/LoBkiGJtn7
— Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) October 20, 2025
Despite the freeze on Democratic efforts, White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett said the shutdown is “likely to end sometime this week,” according to CNBC.
“Now there’s a shot that this week, things will come together, and very quickly,” Hassett said. “The moderate Democrats will move forward and get us an open government, at which point we could negotiate whatever policies they want to negotiate with regular order.”
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