Following the weekly Senate Republican caucus lunch and on the 28th day of a government shutdown, Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) told reporters that "It's not very often that I get a chance to say this, but I agree with the AFGE … largest government employees union who said earlier this week that the Democrats need to reopen the government, and start getting federal employees paid again." He went on to speak on the state of the shutdown, saying, "this is going to get worse as the week goes on, as time goes on." Moreover, Leader Thune said, "we need some courageous Democrats with a backbone who are willing to walk out there and deliver the five votes that are necessary to get the government back open."