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US Shutdown: Senate Fails To Agree On New Budget

The US government is approaching a federal shutdown after the Senate failed to agree on a new budget.

US Senate

It was unclear which way the vote would go as the midnight deadline approached, with Republicans and Democrats split on key issues.

Despite last minute bipartisan meetings, the bill to fund the government until 16 February did not receive the required 60 votes.

The last US shutdown happened in 2013 and lasted for 16 days.

The House of Representatives voted 230-197 on Thursday night to extend funding until next month, but the measure failed to pass the Senate.

Many government offices will close unless a compromise is found before the midnight deadline.

If the shutdown goes ahead essential services will still run. That includes national security, post, air traffic control, inpatient medical services, emergency outpatient medicine, disaster assistance, prisons, taxation and electricity production.

National parks and monuments could face closure, which provoked an angry public reaction during the last shutdown.

In the hours before the vote, President Donald Trump sounded pessimistic, tweeting that it was “not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border”.

He had invited Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer, a fellow New Yorker, to the White House for last-ditch talks but they failed to find sufficient common ground.

Emerging about an hour later, Mr Schumer told reporters “some progress” had been made, but a “good number of disagreements” remained, including a difference in opinion regarding the Democrats’ desire to extend talks for another five days.

What could be the political fallout?

The blame game is already in full swing with neither party wishing to be held accountable for closing the government as midterm elections loom in November.

This would be the first shutdown while one party is in control of both chambers of Congress and the White House, which could be politically embarrassing for Republicans.

A new Washington Post-ABC poll suggests that by a 20-point margin more Americans blame President Trump and his party for the imbroglio, rather than Democrats.

But a shutdown would also be problematic for 10 Democratic senators who are up for re-election this year in states won by Mr Trump.

They would face voters this autumn amid a hail of attack ads claiming they closed the US government to help illegal immigrants.

In a late-night speech on the Senate floor, top Republican Mitch McConnell accused Democrats of trying to “hold the entire country hostage”.

Mindful of the risks, Democrats have shifted their messaging in recent days to say their opposition is about much more than just immigration.

Democrats hope to make it instead about the president and Republicans’ ability to govern.

Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen tweeted of Mr Trump: “This man doesn’t comprehend work ethic, the office of President, or duty to the country. He understands golf, ice cream, and Big Macs!”

What happens in a shutdown?

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said that over 50% of his department would not go to work, and some maintenance, training and intelligence operations would come to a halt.

“We do a lot of intelligence operations around the world and they cost money, these obviously would stop,” Mr Mattis said when asked about the impending shutdown, “it’s got a huge morale impact.”

The Trump administration is reportedly making contingency plans to keep the parks running if no deal is reached.

Visa and passport processing could also be delayed.

Tony Williams
Tony Williams
Tony Williams is a seasoned journalist with over 10 years of experience covering a wide range of topics, from local news to international events. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for uncovering the truth, Tony has won numerous awards for his investigative reporting. He holds a degree in journalism from the University of California and has worked for several top-tier newspapers. Tony is known for his tenacity and commitment to delivering high-quality journalism to his readers, and he is widely respected in the industry for his integrity and professionalism.
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