US Senators have for a fourth time failed to pass spending proposals to reopen the federal government, extending the ongoing shutdown into next week. Two separate spending proposals - one from the Democrats and one from Republicans - failed to reach the required 60-vote threshold.
With both sides deadlocked, the White House on Friday said it would be left with the unenviable task of mass lay-offs to keep essential government services operating if the shutdown continues, which Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described as fiscal sanity.
The potential scope of these lay-offs remains unclear but discussions have been ongoing with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have entrenched their positions on healthcare, with Democrats aiming to maintain health insurance subsidies for low-income individuals, while Republicans accuse them of leveraging the shutdown to support undocumented immigrants, a claim Democrats deny.
In the latest voting, 54 Senators supported the Republican-led funding proposal, while 44 opposed it, and two did not vote. Meanwhile, a separate Democratic proposal also failed, garnering 45 votes for and 52 against.
Senator Josh Hawley remarked, We can vote and vote and vote, but it's up to basically five people. The ongoing impasse has led to mutual accusations from both sides, with Leavitt asserting that Democrats have taken Americans hostage with their demands.
The economic fallout of the shutdown is expected to escalate, with estimates suggesting a potential $15bn loss in GDP weekly as unemployment rises. Furthermore, President Donald Trump indicated he would consult with OMB regarding potential cuts across agencies perceived as misaligned with his administration's values.
As the situation develops, calls for bipartisan negotiations continue, with some Senators expressing concern over the reliability of such talks based on previous experiences. Early polls suggest a divided public, with a Washington Post poll revealing that 47% of the population blame Republicans, 30% blame Democrats, and 23% are uncertain.
With both sides deadlocked, the White House on Friday said it would be left with the unenviable task of mass lay-offs to keep essential government services operating if the shutdown continues, which Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described as fiscal sanity.
The potential scope of these lay-offs remains unclear but discussions have been ongoing with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have entrenched their positions on healthcare, with Democrats aiming to maintain health insurance subsidies for low-income individuals, while Republicans accuse them of leveraging the shutdown to support undocumented immigrants, a claim Democrats deny.
In the latest voting, 54 Senators supported the Republican-led funding proposal, while 44 opposed it, and two did not vote. Meanwhile, a separate Democratic proposal also failed, garnering 45 votes for and 52 against.
Senator Josh Hawley remarked, We can vote and vote and vote, but it's up to basically five people. The ongoing impasse has led to mutual accusations from both sides, with Leavitt asserting that Democrats have taken Americans hostage with their demands.
The economic fallout of the shutdown is expected to escalate, with estimates suggesting a potential $15bn loss in GDP weekly as unemployment rises. Furthermore, President Donald Trump indicated he would consult with OMB regarding potential cuts across agencies perceived as misaligned with his administration's values.
As the situation develops, calls for bipartisan negotiations continue, with some Senators expressing concern over the reliability of such talks based on previous experiences. Early polls suggest a divided public, with a Washington Post poll revealing that 47% of the population blame Republicans, 30% blame Democrats, and 23% are uncertain.
