A new attempt to end the U.S. government shutdown faltered again on Friday, as the Senate failed to secure enough votes to pass a new funding bill.
The shutdown, which began on October 1, stemmed from disputes between Republicans and Democrats over budget provisions. It has led to the suspension of pay for hundreds of thousands of federal employees, disruptions in air travel and other sectors, and the suspension of food aid for millions of poor Americans.
The bill received 53 votes in favor, including three Democrats, and 43 against—falling short of the 60 votes needed for approval in the Republican-controlled Senate.
President Donald Trump urged senators to remain in Washington until an agreement is reached to end the shutdown, accusing Democrats of causing it and calling on both parties to overcome legislative gridlock.
Most Democrats voted against the bill, arguing that it grants Trump excessive powers to withhold pay from certain federal workers. Trump has already authorized payments for military personnel and immigration officers, while threatening to cut pay for other groups.
On Wall Street, the Nasdaq technology index declined amid investor concerns about the shutdown’s impact on the U.S. economy.
In a related development, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday suspended a lower court ruling that required the Trump administration to reimburse states for food assistance program costs during the shutdown—a move that could negatively affect millions of Americans.
The Justice Department had argued that only Congress has the authority to resolve the crisis, saying the lower court had overstepped its bounds.
The Trump administration has also faced backlash after announcing it would be unable to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for the first time in nearly six decades, as partisan blame continues to escalate over the budget deadlock.
Currently, about one in every eight Americans relies on the SNAP program to meet their basic food needs.
