The U.S. government shutdown stretched into its 16th day on Thursday after the Senate failed for the tenth time to advance a stopgap funding bill, leaving federal workers unpaid and essential services disrupted.

With negotiations stalled, Republicans are now pivoting toward a standalone defense appropriations bill in hopes of breaking the impasse.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s latest attempt to move forward on a House-passed measure to extend funding through November 21 fell short in a 51-45 vote—well below the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Democrats held firm, demanding the inclusion of health care tax credit extensions before agreeing to any temporary funding.

Undeterred, Thune scheduled an afternoon vote on a full-year Pentagon funding package, suggesting that other agencies could be bundled in if talks progress. The dual-track strategy—cloture at 11 a.m., defense vote at 1:30 p.m.—comes as pressure mounts ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The shutdown has frozen paychecks for 2.1 million federal civilian employees, closed national parks, and delayed critical aid programs. House Speaker Mike Johnson remained noncommittal on a standalone vote for the expiring tax credits, rejecting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s call for guarantees. Schumer, meanwhile, rallied support for weekend “No Kings” protests, accusing Republicans of obstructing democratic processes.

Thune offered a vote on the credits without a promise of passage, but Johnson pointed to Schumer’s rejection as a tactic to prolong the shutdown. In a controversial move, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that agents would receive paychecks despite the freeze, citing a directive from President Donald Trump—a carve-out that drew criticism from Democrats over fairness.

With bipartisan negotiations on a broader funding package stalled, the Senate’s next steps will test lawmakers’ resolve to end the standoff before the holiday crunch. The longer the shutdown drags on, the deeper the strain on public services and political goodwill.