Government Shuts Down as Bill to Extend Funding Is Blocked

Much of the federal government officially shut down early Saturday morning after Senate Democrats, showing remarkable solidarity in the face of a clear political danger, blocked consideration of a stopgap spending measure to keep the government operating.

Senators from both parties were scrambling for a new deal to reopen the government quickly, possibly just hours after the midnight deadline passed.

The roll call, was 50 in favor and 49 against. Sixty votes are needed to end debate and move to a final vote.

Minutes before the midnight deadline expired, the White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, delivered a statement on Twitter blaming Senate Democrats for she called the “Schumer Shutdown.”

Democrats countered that Republicans were responsible for the management of a government in their control.