US government shutdown continues, as Trump cuts funds for Democratic states

Republicans and Democrats have blocked rival stopgap spending bills for a second straight day, which has hindered progress made by US lawmakers in putting an end to the partial shutdown of the government.

The US Senate on Wednesday rejected the duelling proposals by margins, which were ineffective and mirrored similar efforts the day before.

In a 55-45 vote, the Republican proposal to extend government funding ended on November 21.

The bill was supported on Tuesday by two Democrats, one of whom is an independent, Angus King of Maine, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada.

The Democrats’ bill, which sets up new healthcare spending at $1.5 trillion, received 53 votes for and 47 against, with all Republicans once more opposed.

Donald Trump’s victory came as US President Donald Trump kept his promise to start cutting costs to Democrats as a result of the shutdown, which has halted some government services and forced essential employees to report to work without pay on the back of the promise of being paid later.

The administration will freeze $ 26 billion in infrastructure funding earmarked for Democratic-run states, according to Russell T. Vought, the budget director of the White House.

Vought alleged that conservatives have harshly criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, which have been subject to the conservatives’ harsh criticism of $ 18 billion for transportation projects in New York City.

Vought reported that 16 states, including California, Washington, and Hawaii, had also received $ 8 billion in “Green New Scam funding.”

Trump’s administration officials also gave the president a hint that he would follow through on his earlier threat to use the shutdown to start a mass layoff.

US Vice President JD Vance stated at a White House press briefing that “we will have to lay off people.”

“We’re going to have to save money in some places to prevent other places from providing essential services.”

The economy is already being harmed by the shutdown, according to Stephanie Leiser, a lecturer in public policy at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

We need to keep in mind that the uncertainty is already putting us at risk in terms of delayed investment/spending, higher borrowing costs, depletion of reserves, and administrative burdens, Leiser said.

Instead of making plans for the future, everyone spends all of their time making up scenarios and worrying about the upcoming weeks and months.

Republicans and Democrats appeared to be reluctant to compromise as the shutdown passed its second day.

Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Senate Minority, claimed that Trump “threatening pain on the country as blackmail” and that he had lied to Americans about how he handled them.

He claimed that the public’s demands were reflected in Democrats’ efforts to repeal and replace the Medicaid cuts contained in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Nothing more, please. Nothing less. They want us to convene to discuss a real solution that removes this enormous burden from their shoulders, Schumer&nbsp said.

Democrats were to blame, according to Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

In a post on X, Thune wrote, “They have lost all reason when it comes to their hatred for President Trump.”