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