Senate Democrats on Friday rejected a Republican spending bill in a vote that will almost certainly push the U.S. government shutdown into next week as the party stands firm in the face of President Donald Trump’s threats to fire thousands of federal workers and extract political revenge.
With the two sides locked in a standoff that raises the prospects of lengthy furloughs and a prolonged disruption in government services, senators left Washington for the weekend. Across the Capitol, House Republicans announced lawmakers would remain out of town for another week, with no votes planned until mid-October.
The leaders of both parties are sticking to their talking points as the first shutdown in nearly seven years stretches into its third day. Friday marked the fourth time Democrats have rejected a no-strings temporary measure to open the government through Nov 21. Republicans also blocked a Democratic alternative with $1.5 trillion in added spending, mostly on health care.
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