US government shuts down
Democrats, Republicans blame each other
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States’ federal government shut down at the stroke of midnight on Friday, halting all but the most essential operations and marring the first anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration in a striking display of Washington dysfunction.
Last-minute negotiations crumbled as Senate Democrats blocked a four-week stopgap extension in a latenight vote, causing the fourth government shutdown in a quarter century and the first since 2013. Behind the scenes, however, leading Republicans and Democrats were trying to work out a compromise to avert a lengthy shutdown.
Congress scheduled an unusual Saturday session to begin considering a three-week version of the shortterm spending measure — and to broadcast that they were at work as the shutdown commenced. It seemed likely that each side would try forcing votes aimed at making the other party look culpable for shuttering federal agencies.
Since the closure began at the start of a weekend, many of the immediate effects will be muted for most Americans. But any damage could build quickly if the closure is prolonged — and it comes with no shortage of embarrassment for the president and political risk for both parties, as they wager that voters will punish the other at the ballot box in November.
Social Security and most other safety net programs are unaffected by the lapse in federal spending authority. Critical government functions will continue, with uniformed service members, health inspectors and law enforcement officers set to work without pay. But if no deal is brokered before Monday, hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be furloughed.
After hours of closed-door meetings and phone calls, the Senate scheduled its late-night vote on a House-passed plan. It gained 50 votes to proceed to 49 against, but 60 were needed to break a Democratic filibuster. A handful of red-state Democrats crossed the aisle to support the measure, rather than take a politically risky vote. Four Republicans voted in opposition.
In an unusual move, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell allowed the roll call to exceed two hours — instead of the usual 20 or so — and run past midnight, seemingly accommodating the numerous discussions among leaders and other lawmakers. Still, as midnight passed and the calendar turned, there was no obvious off-ramp to the political stalemate.
Even before the vote, Trump was pessimistic, tweeting that Democrats actually wanted the shutdown “to help diminish the success” of the tax bill he and fellow Republicans pushed through last month.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders later termed the Democrats as “obstructionist losers.”
Democrats balked on the measure in an effort to pressure the White House to cut a deal to protect “dreamer’’ immigrants — who were brought to the country as children and are now here illegally — before their legal protection runs out in March.
The president watched the results from his White House residence, dialing up allies and affirming his belief that Democrats would take the blame for the shutdown, a person familiar with his conversations but not authorized to discuss them publicly said.