Senate Vote Fails, Pushing US Toward Shutdown

A critical government funding package failed to advance in the Senate on Thursday, significantly raising the chances of a government shutdown set to begin Saturday at 12:01 a.m. ET.

The procedural vote on the six-bill package fell short, with a final tally of 45-55. The measure needed 60 votes to overcome a filibuster and move forward.

The outcome was widely anticipated as the legislative standoff intensifies. The failure will likely force Senate Republicans back into negotiations with Democrats to find a path to keep the government open.

DHS Funding Becomes the Sticking Point

The core of the dispute is funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Democrats are demanding that funding for the agency be stripped from the package, insisting on new restrictions for federal immigration enforcement. This follows an incident where agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis this month.

Seven Republican senators joined Democrats in blocking the bill. Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, voted "no" as a procedural move to reserve the right to reconsider the vote later.

"Democrats are ready to pass five bipartisan funding bills in the Senate," Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, stated on the Senate floor. "We're ready to fund 96% of the federal government today, but the DHS bill still needs a lot of work."

What's in the Funding Package?

Beyond the controversial Homeland Security allocation, the failed package also included funding for several other essential federal departments:

• Defense

• Treasury

• State

• Health and Human Services

• Labor

• Housing and Urban Development

• Transportation

• Education

Negotiations Intensify to Avert a Crisis

With the deadline approaching, Republicans began signaling a potential compromise on Wednesday. Some expressed a willingness to separate the DHS funding bill from the main package, allowing the other departments to be funded while negotiations continue.

However, altering the bill presents its own procedural challenge, as it would require another vote in the House of Representatives, which is currently on recess.

Thune confirmed that Democrats are negotiating with the White House to find a solution. "Let's hope it lands," he told reporters.

He acknowledged that a resolution on the contentious issues would require a broader agreement. "There's a path to consider some of those things and negotiate that out between Republicans, Democrats, House, Senate, White House, but that's not going to happen in this bill," Thune said.