US government shuts down as Congress fails to pass spending bill

The White House says it will not negotiate with the Democrats on immigration until the end of the federal government shutdown. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says in a statement that, "We will not negotiate the status of unlawful immigrants while Democrats hold our lawful citizens hostage over their reckless demands." She adds, "When Democrats start paying our armed forces and first responders we will reopen negotiations on immigration reform." The government shut down at midnight after Congress failed to pass a spending deal. Sanders says, "Senate Democrats own the Schumer Shutdown," adding, "This is the behavior of obstructionist losers, not legislators." __ 12 midnight The U.S. government shut down at midnight after Congress failed to resolve a partisan standoff over immigration and spending. In a late-night vote, Senate Democrats joined to block a bill that would have kept the government running for another four weeks. A flurry of last-minute negotiations failed to beat the deadline. Top Home Phone Service - Save on your Phone Bill Top Home Phone Service - Save on your Phone Bill Ad: Anygator.com Democrats have tried to use the Friday night funding deadline to win concessions from Republicans, including an extension of an Obama-era program protecting some young immigrants from deportation. The program is set to expire in March. Republicans sought more time for talks, but Democrats refused. The shutdown is only the fourth government closure in a quarter-century. It will only partially curb government operations. Uniformed service members, health inspectors, and law enforcement officers are set to work without pay. ___ 11 p.m. Senate Democrats appear to have derailed a Republican bill aimed at preventing a federal shutdown set to begin as soon as the calendar flips to Saturday. Friday's late-night vote means at least a short government closure is all but unavoidable. There have been no clear public signs that the two parties have significantly narrowed their disputes over immigration and the budget. The House approved the measure Thursday over Democratic opposition. It would keep agencies afloat through Feb. 16, but Democrats want a package lasting just days in hopes of intensifying pressure on the GOP to compromise. Republicans control the Senate 51-49. The GOP needed 60 votes to prevail, but the tally was 50-48 as of 11 p.m. Eastern time. The Senate is awaiting a final vote from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. __ 10:55 p.m. The United States Senate procedural vote on a short-term spending bill to keep the government open while Congress negotiates for a more long-term solution to fund the government has failed. Enough senators have voted against the bill preventing a government shutdown to block the measure, while the roll call is still underway. Without a spending bill passed by both the House and Senate, the government is scheduled to shut down at midnight on Friday. 10:30 p.m. The Trump administration will exempt several hundred presidential staffers from mandatory furloughs if the government shuts down at midnight. Contingency plans released Friday night show that 659 Executive Office of the President staffers would be allowed to report to duty because they are considered essential workers. More than 1,000 of 1,700 staffers would be furloughed. The number is higher than the Obama administration, which deemed 545 staffers essential in 2015. The Executive Office of the President includes those who work in White House Office, the Office of the Vice President and the National Security Council, among others.
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