Government shutdown updates: Leavitt says Trump exploring cutting aid to Portland

Democrats continued to hold the line during Wednesday's vote, once again blocking a seven-week extension of government funding from advancing across the Senate floor.

The bill would've needed 60 votes to advance. It failed by a vote of 55-45.

Democrats doubled down on their demands that health care issues be addressed.

The Senate is not expected to hold any additional votes on government funding until Friday at the earliest, all but assuring this shutdown stretches on at least until Friday.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin

In at least one case, Justice Department lawyers have asked for a judge to issue a stay while they wait for the government to be fully funded.

The "lapse in appropriations" has "eliminated the ability of counsel" who worked on a particular case to "handle the litigation and to file the Defandants' motion papers while the lapse in appropriations continues," Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Zurier writes.

Attorneys are requesting that the Court allows for them to stay "until the restoration of funding to DOJ and Defendants" in this particular case -- which involves cutting funding for certain organizations by the Administration for their support for DEI issues.

Additionally, money from the National Flood Insurances Program could run dry if the government shutdown is prolonged, according to a letter sent to Congress by the National Association of Relators.

A lapse would mean that Americans can't renew or purchase new flood water insurance and must rely on limited disaster aid, according to Kevin Sears, the president of NAR.

-ABC News' Luke Barr

The Democrat funding bill that includes health care provisions failed to pass again on Wednesday morning by a vote of 47-53. Once again, every Democrat voted for it and every Republican voted against it.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin

House Democratic leaders said they are "willing to negotiate" on a way to end the government shutdown "if Republicans are serious about addressing the health care crisis they have created."

"Republicans control the Senate, the House and the White House. They need Democratic votes to fund the government, so it's on them to talk with us," House Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair Pete Aguilar said on Wednesday.

Aguilar also criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson, saying his word "doesn't mean much to House Democrats" and he is "simply focused on doing what his conference wants."

He called the shutdown a "shame" and know that "this is a disruption" for many people.

"Let's avoid this shutdown, let's end this," Aguilar said.