Oct. 3 (UPI) — The government shutdown likely will continue into Monday after the Senate failed to approve one of two proposed temporary funding measures on Friday afternoon.
The Senate voted 54-44 on a Republican-sponsored and House-approved continuing resolution that would have funded the federal government for another seven weeks while negotiating a budget for the 2026 fiscal year that started on Wednesday.
The measure needs at least 60 votes to overcome a potential filibuster and go to President Donald Trump for signing.
A counterproposal by Senate Democrats that would fund the federal government through the end of October but would add $1.5 trillion in spending and was defeated by a 46-52 vote.
The Senate convened at 11:30 a.m. EDT and remained in session late Friday afternoon following the defeat of the two temporary funding proposals.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., points to a poster of the Senate Democrats’ continuing resolution proposal during a press conference in Statuary Hall at the Capitol in Washington on Friday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., earlier said the government could reopen as soon as a funding bill is passed.
Thune briefly discussed matters with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., during the floor votes but said he likely would have more success by meeting with others in the Senate Democrats’ caucus, CBS News reported.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., host a press conference ahead of the Senate funding votes at the Capitol in Washington on Friday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Many senators were hopeful of reaching an agreement to end the legislative impasse and reopen the government, but Schumer urged his colleagues to oppose the House resolution, according to The Hill.
The GOP reportedly is willing to extend tax credits for the Affordable Care Act after they expired on Tuesday.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, speaks to the press at the Capitol in Washington after the Senate failed for a fourth time to get 60 yes votes on either the Democrats’ continuing resolution or the House-passed funding bill on Friday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
With the GOP controlling 53 Senate seats, it would need support from all Republican Senators and seven more from the Democratic Caucus to approve the House-approved measure, but Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has been the lone dissenting Republican vote.
Thune earlier said the Senate will adjourn until Monday if the Senate does not approve one of the funding resolutions, which would extend the federal government through the weekend.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., opposed a GOP measure to fund the federal government but supported an alternative bill by Senate Democrats as the Senate failed for a fourth time to get 60 yes votes on either measure at the Capitol in Washington on Friday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has halted $2.1 billion in federal funding for public transportation infrastructure in Chicago and $18 billion for projects in New York City.
The Trump administration also canceled $7.5 billion in funding for energy projects in states carried by former Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 election.
President Donald Trump said his administration also will determine which federal agencies will be defunded and possibly eliminated.
