WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. government is on the brink of a shutdown as Senate Democrats have rejected a Republican bill aimed at maintaining government funding. With the deadline mere hours away, federal employees face the prospect of mass furloughs and layoffs.
The Senate voted on two funding proposals, including a House-approved Republican measure, both of which failed to pass. Following an unsuccessful White House meeting, President Trump indicated that a shutdown appears unavoidable.
The White House has warned of potential mass firings if a resolution isn’t reached. Meanwhile, President Trump stirred controversy by sharing a deepfake video mocking Democratic leadership, which featured an AI-generated image of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Key issues in the negotiations include Democratic efforts to reverse recent Medicaid cuts and secure Obamacare subsidies. Last week’s scheduled meeting was canceled by Trump, and yesterday’s discussions yielded no progress.
Democrats emphasize the need to focus on keeping the government operational and have called on Republicans to return to Washington for further negotiations. On the other hand, Republicans argue that Democrats’ demands are hindering progress.
If the shutdown occurs, approximately 4 million federal employees could miss paychecks, while 2 million troops might have to work without pay. Essential services like TSA and air traffic control will continue, albeit without pay, and Social Security payments will be unaffected.
Republicans have proposed a short-term extension to keep the government open for seven weeks, allowing time for bipartisan negotiations on a full-year funding plan. However, without a last-minute breakthrough, the government is set to shut down at midnight Eastern Time.