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Failure by US Senate to agree on new budget forces govt shutdown
For the first time in the history of American politics, the government is facing a shutdown after the Senate failed to agree on a new budget despite last minute bipartisan meetings.
Reports say the appropriation bill to fund the government until 16 February did not receive the required 60 votes forcing the US government to begin a federal shutdown.
The House of Representatives voted 230-197 on Friday night to extend funding until next month, but the measure failed to pass the Senate by a margin of 50-49.
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Five Republicans voted against the bill while five Democrats broke ranks to support it.
It is the first shutdown ever to happen while the same party, the Republicans, controls Congress and the White House.
In response, the White House accused Democrats of holding “lawful citizens hostage over their reckless demands”.
“They put politics above our national security, military families, vulnerable children, and our country’s ability to serve all Americans”, spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.
But Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said President Donald Trump had turned down two bipartisan compromise deals and “did not press his party in Congress”.
It was unclear which way the vote would go as the midnight deadline approached, with Republicans and Democrats split on key issues.
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