Northeast South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) appeared on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" with Maria Bartiromo to discuss the ongoing government shutdown and efforts to pass a short-term funding resolution.

Thune criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting what he described as a "clean, nonpartisan, short-term funding resolution" that would keep the government funded for seven weeks. He said, “There’s not a lot to negotiate, Maria. The Democrats just need to open up the government. Right now, we’re at a stalemate. They’ve now voted four times. We’ve given them the opportunity – a clean, nonpartisan, short-term funding resolution that continues government funding for the next seven weeks, and on four occasions now they’ve voted against it.”

He added that Democrats will have another chance to vote on Monday and expressed hope that some might change their position. According to Thune, Democratic proposals include $1.5 trillion in new spending and expanded health care access for noncitizens while reducing support for rural hospitals: “What’s happening here is the Democrats are trying to hijack a short-term, nonpartisan continuing resolution...to try and get $1.5 trillion of new spending, make health care in this country, free health care available to noncitizens in this country, and guts a $50 billion rural hospital health fund that’s designed to support rural hospitals.”

Thune called these proposals unrealistic: “That’s [Democrats’] proposal. It’s a nonstarter. It’s not serious, it’s not reasonable, it’s not realistic. Everybody knows that.”

He urged Democratic senators not to follow their leadership: “[Chuck Schumer’s] rank-and-file members shouldn’t follow his lead on this. This is where you need to separate from your leader and actually do the right thing for your constituents and for your country.”

Thune emphasized that the proposed funding measure did not include policy riders or other provisions: “This is nonpartisan, we didn’t put anything on it – no gimmicks, no policy riders. Just a straightforward resolution to keep the government open so we can continue the appropriations work that … both sides, Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, want to do.”

Discussing consequences of the shutdown if it continues further into October 2025—such as delayed paychecks for border patrol agents and TSA workers as well as impacts on food assistance programs—Thune said: “You’re talking about border patrol agents not getting paid, TSA agents not getting paid … You’ve got programs like … food assistance for women and children that’s being affected by this. At some point, this is going to start having real consequences …”

He also noted disruptions caused by shifting funds among agencies during shutdowns.

Regarding legislative priorities affected by the impasse—including defense authorization bills and permitting reform—he stated: “The real sacrifice here too is all the other things we need to be doing … We’ve got a defense authorization bill that’s supposed to be on the floor…all kinds of other things…hanging in balance now over this shutdown.”

Thune referred repeatedly to what he termed "a Schumer shutdown," blaming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for leading Democrats into an impasse allegedly influenced by left-wing groups opposed broadly to President Trump: “This is a Schumer shutdown...But there are Democrats who are reaching out...hopefully reasonable Democrats will prevail there…”

He argued Democratic opposition was rooted more in animosity toward President Trump than policy differences: “Right now [Democrat] leadership is stuck because these left-wing special interest groups are so adamant in their desire to fight President Trump…it’s sort of this blind Trump Derangement Syndrome…”

On prospects for peace negotiations involving Israel and its neighbors amid ongoing conflict with Hamas in 2025—a subject also raised during his appearance—Thune credited U.S.-led diplomatic efforts but remained skeptical about commitments from militant groups: “We’re all very hopeful…I give the president and his team great credit...I’m skeptical…of Hamas…and any other terrorist organization…they need to disarm…Hopefully this will be a deal that will result in a peaceful outcome…and…the elimination…and obliteration of Hamas and Hezbollah…”

The current standoff has delayed progress on several major legislative items pending before Congress.