A Republican proposal to end the government shutdown failed on Monday as Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) rallied his party against a fifth attempt to end the impasse that has left thousands of federal employees in limbo.

The Senate voted 52-42 to shoot down the GOP's "clean" resolution to get the government open again, as Democrats doubled down on their healthcare policy demands, the New York Post reported.

Democrats vote for shutdown

Schumer has attempted to blame the shutdown on Republicans, who control the White House and majorities in both houses of Congress, but Republicans still need at least eight Democrats in the Senate to bypass the 60-vote filibuster.

A mere three Senate Democrats voted to end the shutdown on Monday: Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania (D) and Angus King of Maine, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats. Senator Rand Paul (KY) was the only Republican to reject the GOP's stopgap bill.

The GOP's bill would keep the government funded at current levels through November 21.

Democrats are demanding an extension to enhanced subsidies that help people afford the sky-high premiums on many Affordable Care Act (i.e. Obamacare) plans.

Republicans say they are willing to negotiate once the government opens back up, but Democrats are forcing the issue, extending the shutdown indefinitely.

"I am happy to work with the Democrats on their Failed Healthcare Policies, or anything else, but first they must allow our Government to re-open,” Trump wrote on Monday. “In fact, they should open our Government tonight!”

Trump raises pressure

While Schumer and his fellow Democrats have traditionally supported government workers, the Democrats are embracing shutdown politics as they scramble to confront an emboldened second-term Trump.

Just months ago, Schumer faced backlash from fellow Democrats for helping Trump fund the government. At the time, Schumer said a shutdown would empower Trump further.

Republicans have accused Schumer of flip-flopping to fend off a primary challenge from the left, as an increasingly restive (and violent) Democratic base demands an aggressive response to Trump's agenda.

As the impasse continues, Trump is seeking to exact a political price, threatening to fire thousands of federal workers who are currently on furlough.

No back pay for furloughed workers

The White House raised the pressure again on Tuesday by suggesting thousands of government workers are not entitled to backpay once they return, despite a 2019 law that Trump signed, following the previous shutdown, that guarantees backpay.

Trump said he wants to "take care" of government employees but added that some do not "deserve" compensation.

"I can tell you this," Trump said Tuesday. "The Democrats have put a lot of people in great risk and jeopardy, but it really depends on who you're talking about."

"But for the most part, we're going to take care of our people. There are some people that really don't deserve to be taken care of, and we'll take care of them in a different way," Trump said.