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Failing to agree on new budget, US begins federal shutdown

Washington: After the senate failed to agree on a new budget, the United States Government has began a federal shutdown.

The bill, required to fund the government, despite last minute meetings, didn’t receive the required 60 votes.

This is for the first time a shutdown has happened with the same party while controlling the Congress and the White House.

While reacting over the development, the White House accused the Democrats of holding ‘lawful citizens hostage over their reckless demands’, reported the BBC.

“They put politics above our national security, military families, vulnerable children, and our country’s ability to serve all Americans”, spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

But Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said President Donald Trump had turned down two bipartisan compromise deals and “did not press his party in Congress”.

It was unclear which way the vote would go as the midnight deadline approached, with Republicans and Democrats split on key issues.

The House of Representatives voted 230-197 on Thursday night to extend funding until next month, but the measure failed to pass the Senate by a margin of 50-49.

Five Republicans voted against the bill while five Democrats broke ranks to support it.

The last US shutdown happened in 2013 and lasted for 16 days, during which many federal employees took a forced leave of absence.

 

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