The federal government barreled toward a shutdown on Tuesday ahead of a midnight deadline, after Democrats in Congress again blocked Republicans’ plan to keep federal funding flowing ahead of a midnight deadline.
In back-to-back Senate votes that reflected the bitter spending deadlock between President Trump and Democrats, each party blocked the other’s stopgap spending proposal, just as they had earlier this month. It underscored how little progress has been made toward a compromise that could head off the first government shutdown since 2019.
On a 55-to-45 vote, the G.O.P. plan, which would extend funding through Nov. 21, fell short of the 60 needed for passage, all but assuring a shutdown at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday that would furlough workers and disrupt federal services.
Republicans also blocked Democrats’ plan, which would extend funding through the end of October and add more than $1 trillion in health care spending, in a 47-to-53 vote.
Senate Republican leaders held the votes as a part of what they promised would be a daily effort to force Democrats to go on the record against extending government funding.
“The Democrats’ far-left base and far-left senators have demanded a showdown with the president,” said Senator John Thune, Republican of South Dakota and the majority leader. “And the Democrat leaders have bowed to their demands. And apparently, the American people just have to suffer the consequences.”
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The post Government Shutdown Hours Away as Senate Spending Votes Fail appeared first on New York Times.
