Shutdown starts at midnight as US Senate adjourns with no spending bill

The US Capitol in Washington, photo taken on Friday evening, Jan. 19, 2018, stands illuminated as the Senate tries to find a breakthrough to avoid a government shutdown. (Photo by J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE / AP FILE PHOTO)

The United States government was assured on Thursday of careening into a shutdown at midnight after the Senate adjourned with no vote on a measure to extend federal funding beyond the 12:00 a.m. deadline.

The upper chamber of Congress struggled to overcome roadblocks to passing a government funding bill and budget plan when a conservative senator objected to a swift vote; and leadership opted to close up shop and then reopen at 12:01 a.m. (0501 GMT) on Friday.

The closure could ultimately be shortlived, as the Senate was expected to schedule a vote on the measure at 1:00 a.m. and, if it passes, send it to the House of Representatives and then on to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature as early as Friday.                  /kga