U.S. Senate reject measures to end shutdown – House GOP to extend recess through Oct. 13

Senate Democrats and Republicans failed to pass competing bills to fund the government, extending the shutdown into next week. The measures were expected to fail, ‘The Hill’ reports.

Shortly after the failed votes, the House GOP said it would extend its recess through Oct. 13, a move to put pressure on Senate Democrats.

Senate Democrats have said the House GOP should be at the Capitol to negotiate a new deal, so the decision increases the likelihood the shutdown will last until the middle of Octoberr.

A longer shutdown could start weighing down the economy. Democrats are banking on Republicans feeling pressure to avoid that, leading them to cut a deal.

Earlier White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt briefed the press, sharing that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is coordinating with Cabinet secretaries about possible firings, an action that pushes the administration into uncharted legal territory.

Trump met with OMB chief Russ Vought to discuss the layoffs.

“Their discussions continue between the Office of Management and Budget and Cabinet agencies across the board, and they are actively identifying where these cuts and these layoffs as the government shutdown hopefully does not continue,” Leavitt said.

Trump has tried to ramp up pressure on Democrats to vote for the funding bill by following through on his threat to permanently lay off thousands of federal employees if the government remains closed.

Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought has begun talking to Cabinet secretaries about which agencies would be targeted for layoffs.

But Democrats are holding firm in their opposition to the House Republican spending bill.

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