JD Vance urges Democratic senators to end government shutdown as chamber leaves for Halloween

Vice President JD Vance on Thursday pleaded with Senate Democrats to help Republicans reopen the federal government, stating that only five more "reasonable" senators were needed to end the shutdown as the chamber leaves for a three-day weekend.

Republicans have blamed Senate Democrats for keeping the government shut down because 60 votes are needed to reopen it. The government has been closed since Oct. 1, but the upper chamber has continually tried passing a Republican-led House bill that would keep the government funded through Nov. 21.

Several Senate Democrats have already voted with Republicans to reopen the government, but Republicans only hold 53 seats and Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul has consistently voted to keep the government closed. 

"All we need to end the craziness, to pay the air traffic controllers, to pay the (Transportation Security Administration) agents, to pay the pilots, to make sure that food stamp benefits continue to go out to the American people who need them," Vance said. "All we need is five reasonable Democrats to join three moderate Democrats and 52 Republicans to reopen the government.

"I've been a little bit unfair, and I want to correct this, because when I say the Democrats have shut down the government, it's actually the far left side of the Democratic Party," Vance continued. "Because to their great credit, three moderate Democrats joined 52 Senate Republicans to vote to reopen the government. We need five more reasonable Democrats to put the American people first and reopen the government."

The comments come the same day that Alabama GOP Sen. Katie Britt met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to discuss ending the government shutdown, and a source told Politico that several Democrats are privately feeling cautiously optimistic about ending the shutdown next week.

The Senate is now on its Halloween weekend and is expected to return to vote on ending the shutdown next week. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.