Both Republican and Democratic proposals to fund the government past Tuesday failed in the Senate, all but ensuring a shutdown at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. The Democratic plan, which included health care provisions, failed 47-53, while the Republican-backed clean funding bill fell 55-45.
Key Senate Votes
Democrats largely voted against the Republican bill, though Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and John Fetterman, along with Independent Angus King, supported it. Sen. Rand Paul was the only Republican to oppose the measure. The Democratic funding plan saw all Democrats voting yes and all Republicans voting no. Both bills required 60 votes to pass.
Trump Blames Democrats for Layoffs
President Donald Trump attributed potential federal workforce layoffs during the shutdown to Democrats, claiming they are pushing health care provisions for immigrants without legal status. “We’d be laying off a lot of people that are going to be very affected. And the Democrats, they’re going to be Democrats,” Trump said.
Democrats Push Health Care Demands
Senate Democrats have emphasized that any stopgap funding solution must include protections for health care programs like the Affordable Care Act. Republicans counter that the clean funding bill, lacking such provisions, is the faster route to keeping the government operational.
Shutdown Looms
With neither measure passing and the funding deadline passed, a government shutdown appears imminent, raising uncertainty for federal employees and services.
For more on the government shutdown, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.