The Capitol is seen at dusk as Democrats and Republicans in Congress are angrily blaming each other and refusing to budge from their positions on funding the government, in Washington. (AP Photo)
US Government Shutdown Live Updates: The United States is moving towards a government shutdown as a vote to extend the funding with a midnight deadline failed in the US Senate on Tuesday. President Donald Trump threatened to extend his federal workforce ouster after accusing Democrats of pursuing the shutdown. The Senate required 60 votes to advance the legislation but fell short by 55-to-45 votes, which means that US government agencies will have to discontinue all but “essential” activities like law enforcement from Wednesday onwards.
Non-essential work to be halted: The federal agencies have shared detailed shutdown plans that would close offices that are carrying out scientific research, customer service and other “non-essential activities” and it would lead to tens of thousands of workers going home without pay. Border guards, military personnel and other work which comes under the umbrella of “essential” will continue to stay on the job, but would not get paid until the Congress resolves the dispute.
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What happens next: There was no sign of compromise between the Republicans and the Democrats on Capitol Hill and it remains unclear how long the government shutdown will play out. The US Congress has shut down the government 15 times since 1981, with most of them lasting for one or two days. However, the most recent during Trump’s first term, was the longest. Republicans have said they are open to fixing the contentions surrounding healthcare but accuse Democrats of holding the budget “hostage”.
