The United States (US) government shutdown worsened on Friday after the Senate, for the fourth time, voted down a funding proposal put forward by President Donald Trump’s Republican Party.
The impasse, which has left federal agencies without funding since Wednesday, is expected to extend the shutdown into next week, crippling a wide range of public services.
According to AFP News, the standoff in Congress has forced the closure of popular tourist sites such as the Washington Monument, delayed key employment data releases, and disrupted several official government websites, while some departments remain unaffected.
If the gridlock continues, about 750,000 federal employees are expected to be placed on furlough — a temporary, unpaid leave with guaranteed back pay once the government reopens.
Friday’s vote was the final opportunity this week to resolve the crisis, as Senate leaders confirmed there were no plans to keep the chamber in session over the weekend.
Reports indicate that Democrats are holding out for an extension of health care subsidies set to expire soon, warning that millions of low-income Americans could face significantly higher costs.
Meanwhile, Republicans, who control both Congress and the White House, have shown no sign of addressing the Democrats’ concerns but still require their votes to pass the funding bills.
AFP reports that Democrats are blocking a Trump-backed funding resolution in a bid to pressure Republicans into negotiating on the subsidy issue.
The White House condemned the Democratic stance as “an intentional sabotage of our country.”
“This madness must end,” said Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt. “President Trump and Republicans are calling on Democrats to reopen the government immediately on behalf of the American public.”
Despite growing frustration, some Republicans in Congress expressed hope that continued pressure could sway moderate Democrats.
“Hopefully over the weekend, they’ll have a chance to think about it,” said Republican Senate leader John Thune at the US Capitol.
Source:Africa Publicity
