WASHINGTON: The US government shutdown appeared likely to stretch into next week as senators prepared Friday to vote for a fourth time on a funding fix proposed by Donald Trump’s Republicans that has little hope of success.
Federal agencies have been out of money since Wednesday — with a wide range of public services crippled — as a result of deadlocked talks in Congress on how to keep the lights on.
Senate leaders currently have no plans to keep the upper chamber of Congress in session over the weekend.
That means an afternoon vote on a short-term fix that has already been repeatedly rejected will be the last chance of the week for an off-ramp in a crisis that many analysts fear could drag on.
Ahead of the action in the Senate, the Trump administration suspended the publication of a key employment report, casting a fog over the health of the world’s biggest economy.
It was the latest in a series of delayed economic releases this week that have deprived government officials and business leaders of indicators used in decision-making.
At the center of the standoff in Congress is a Democratic demand for an extension of health care subsidies that are due to expire — meaning sharply increased costs for millions of low-income Americans.
Republicans — who control the legislature and the White House but need Democratic votes on government funding bills — have announced no plans to address the issue.
Democrats are trying to force their hand by refusing to help ruling Republicans fund the government.
Amid widespread pessimism over the possibility of a quick solution, Republicans voiced hopes that a fourth failed vote might push some moderates in the opposition to cross the aisle.
And Politico quoted Republican Senate leader John Thune leaving the door open to crisis talks with his Democratic counterpart Chuck Schumer to seek a compromise.
“Chuck Schumer is under a tremendous amount of pressure from far-left activists in his party to pick a fight with President Trump,” Thune posted on social media.
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