U.S. Senate Fails to Pass Spending Bill — Government Shutdown Hours Away

The U.S. federal government is heading toward a shutdown as the Senate on Tuesday failed to pass a spending bill ahead of the midnight deadline. Republicans and Democrats blocked each other’s funding proposals, highlighting a deep political stalemate in Washington. This threatens the first government shutdown since 2019.

Source The New York Times

The Senate has adjourned for the day and does not plan to return until Wednesday, effectively assuring that the shutdown will begin. Leaders from both parties are blaming each other for the crisis, which could result in thousands of federal employees being furloughed and major government programs suspended.

President Donald Trump and his allies argue that Democrats are stalling funding for political advantage. Democrats, in turn, accuse Republicans of using the crisis as leverage to push cuts to social programs, including healthcare. The standoff has further intensified negotiations, which so far have produced no breakthrough.