Shutdown starts at midnight as US Senate adjourns with no spending bill
WASHINGTON: The US government on Thursday was assured of careening into a shutdown at midnight after the Senate adjourned with no vote on a measure to extend federal funding beyond the 12am deadline.
The upper chamber of Congress struggled to overcome roadblocks to passing a government funding bill and budget plan when a conservative senator objected to a swift vote, and leadership opted to close up shop and then reopen at 12:01 am (0501 GMT) Friday.
The closure could ultimately be shortlived, as the Senate was expected to schedule a vote on the measure at 1am and, if it passes, send it to the House of Representatives and then on to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature as early as Friday.
