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US government shutdown after Congress fails to vote US government shutdown after Congress fails to vote
(35 minutes later)
The US government has shut down after Congress failed to pass a key budgetary measure on time. The US government has officially shut down for the second time this year because Congress failed to meet a deadline to vote on a new budget.
Lawmakers had hoped to approve a new spending bill before federal funding expired at midnight (05:00 GMT). Senators, however, debated all night, and may still agree the bill sometime before the working day starts.
But Republican Senator Rand Paul ended hopes for a quick vote when he demanded a debate in the chamber on his amendment to maintain spending caps. The 600-page plan proposes an increase in spending, by about $300bn (£215bn), on defence and domestic services.
In January, a similar failure to pass a bill led to a three-day government shutdown. But lawmakers struggled to overcome last-minute objections from Republican Senator Rand Paul.
The federal Office of Personnel Management said government operations would "vary by agency". Federal funding expired at midnight (05:00 GMT).
"Employees should refer to their home agency for guidance on reporting for duty," it said in a brief statement. Talks are continuing, with the hope that the shutdown can be rescinded before work begins Friday.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives need to approve the new two-year spending deal. But for that to happen, the plan must be passed in both the Senate and the House of Representatives and signed by the president.
The shutdown was essentially guaranteed an hour before the deadline, when the Senate voted for a recess until 00:01.The shutdown was essentially guaranteed an hour before the deadline, when the Senate voted for a recess until 00:01.
Despite the delays, the Senate is due to vote on the budgetary measure after 01:00. The House will not vote on the deal until the Senate approves it.Despite the delays, the Senate is due to vote on the budgetary measure after 01:00. The House will not vote on the deal until the Senate approves it.
It is not yet clear how Congress will proceed and how public services may be affected on Friday.It is not yet clear how Congress will proceed and how public services may be affected on Friday.
The latest deal would raise spending caps by about $300bn (£215bn) - something which Senator Paul insisted he could not support. The federal Office of Personnel Management said government operations would "vary by agency" and employees should "refer to their home agency for guidance on reporting for duty".
CNN is reporting that if the shutdown is not averted, government agencies will still be able to call their employees in for a half day's work to make the shutdown go smoothly.
Why are budget hawks opposed?Why are budget hawks opposed?
While the spending bill's funding for the Pentagon has delighted the national security wing of the party, fiscal conservatives are up in arms about ramifications for the nation's debt.While the spending bill's funding for the Pentagon has delighted the national security wing of the party, fiscal conservatives are up in arms about ramifications for the nation's debt.
In a doom-laden speech, Senator Paul angrily charged his fellow Republicans with fiscal profligacy.In a doom-laden speech, Senator Paul angrily charged his fellow Republicans with fiscal profligacy.
"I ran for office because I was very critical of President Obama's trillion-dollar deficits," he said."I ran for office because I was very critical of President Obama's trillion-dollar deficits," he said.
"Now we have Republicans, hand in hand with Democrats, offering us trillion-dollar deficits."Now we have Republicans, hand in hand with Democrats, offering us trillion-dollar deficits.
"I can't in all good honesty, in all good faith, just look the other way just because my party is now complicit in the deficits.""I can't in all good honesty, in all good faith, just look the other way just because my party is now complicit in the deficits."
This would be "the very definition of hypocrisy", he added.This would be "the very definition of hypocrisy", he added.
What's in this bill?What's in this bill?
As Senator Paul pointed out, the 650-page spending plan was only unveiled on Wednesday night, so the finer details are unclear.As Senator Paul pointed out, the 650-page spending plan was only unveiled on Wednesday night, so the finer details are unclear.
White House legislative affairs director Marc Short said the package would increase spending by "just shy" of $300bn.White House legislative affairs director Marc Short said the package would increase spending by "just shy" of $300bn.
The Washington Post puts the figure at half a trillion dollars.The Washington Post puts the figure at half a trillion dollars.
The bill contains $165bn of additional defence spending and $131bn in domestic spending, including funding for healthcare, infrastructure and tackling the US opioid crisis, reports Reuters news agency.The bill contains $165bn of additional defence spending and $131bn in domestic spending, including funding for healthcare, infrastructure and tackling the US opioid crisis, reports Reuters news agency.
The proposal would raise the US debt ceiling until March 2019.The proposal would raise the US debt ceiling until March 2019.
Why are some Democrats unhappy?Why are some Democrats unhappy?
Despite the support of their Senate leader Chuck Schumer, who says the budget accord will "break the long cycle of spending crises", some Democrats have complained that the bill does not address immigration.Despite the support of their Senate leader Chuck Schumer, who says the budget accord will "break the long cycle of spending crises", some Democrats have complained that the bill does not address immigration.
The party's leader in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said on Thursday morning she was opposed to the plan, but would not order rank-and-file Democrats to vote against it.The party's leader in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said on Thursday morning she was opposed to the plan, but would not order rank-and-file Democrats to vote against it.
The California congresswoman has called for the bill to include a provision shielding so-called Dreamers, young immigrants who entered the US illegally as children, from deportation.The California congresswoman has called for the bill to include a provision shielding so-called Dreamers, young immigrants who entered the US illegally as children, from deportation.
Her remarks came a day after she told the stories of immigrants for eight hours on the floor of the lower chamber in a record-breaking speech.Her remarks came a day after she told the stories of immigrants for eight hours on the floor of the lower chamber in a record-breaking speech.
Obama-era guarantees for those immigrants were cancelled by US President Donald Trump and are set to become invalid next month.Obama-era guarantees for those immigrants were cancelled by US President Donald Trump and are set to become invalid next month.
Illinois representative Luis Gutierrez, one of the leading congressional advocates for immigrants, is urging colleagues to vote against the plan.Illinois representative Luis Gutierrez, one of the leading congressional advocates for immigrants, is urging colleagues to vote against the plan.
"Don't collude with this administration," he said."Don't collude with this administration," he said.