Congress remained deadlocked on legislation to reopen the federal government, as the US Senate on Tuesday again rejected a Republican plan to end the government shutdown that began two weeks ago.
The eighth Senate vote to advance a Republican bill that would fund government operations through 21 November failed on a 49-45 tally – far short of the 60 needed for advancement in the chamber.
After the Trump administration began laying off federal workers at several government agencies last week, Democrats and Republicans continued to trade blame.
The Senate majority leader John Thune accused Democrats of taking “government funding hostage” over their demands to extend expiring subsidies for people who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
The Republican speaker has kept the House in extended recess and scrapped scheduled votes as he attempts to pressure Senate Democrats into accepting the Republican proposal without modifications.
According to a court filing by the country’s largest federal workers union, the American Federation of Government Employees, more than 4,000 government employees have been laid off during the shutdown.
“Stop attacking employees, stop attacking the American people, and start negotiating to reopen the federal government. »