WASHINGTON >> Three weeks into a U.S. government shutdown, Republicans who control Congress have begun talking about possible next steps in what has been a stalemate with Democrats who are withholding their support from a temporary funding bill until they win an extension of a healthcare subsidy.

Sen. Susan Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee that oversees federal spending, on Tuesday told reporters that Republicans will likely need to extend their stopgap bill to reopen the government and fund operations beyond its Nov. 21 end-date.

“There’s a realization that we’re going to have to have an extension because we’ve wasted all these weeks,” the Maine Republican said, noting she does not want to see stopgap funding go into 2026.

Her remarks follow those of Senate Major

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