White House triggers plans for “an orderly shutdown” of the federal government

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — Senate Democrats have voted down a Republican bill to keep funding the government, putting it on a path to a shutdown after midnight Wednesday.

The 55-45 vote Tuesday on the bill to extend federal funding for seven weeks fell short of the 60 needed to end a filibuster and pass the legislation.

After the vote, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget issued a memo saying “affected agencies should now execute their plans for an orderly shutdown.”

The action comes as Democrats are making good on their threat to close the government if President Donald Trump and Republicans won’t accede to their health care demands.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement:

“Instead of voting to keep the government open and protect services their constituents rely on, Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats prefer to make Americans suffer to score political points. These major health care policy changes Senate Democrats are demanding should be negotiated through the legislative process, not a short-term continuing resolution. Their wish list of demands is not serious and is an act of extortion at the expense of troops, border patrol agents, farmers, and the very Americans we represent. The Schumer Shutdown was caused by Democrats, and Democrats alone. I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle can come to their senses, put their partisan games aside, and pass a clean continuing resolution funding the government.”