US government on verge of shutdown after Senate fails to approve spending bill

The US government is on the verge of shutdown as the Senate looked set to fail to agree a new budget ahead of the midnight deadline.

In a dramatic late-night session, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell left voting open despite appearing to fall short of the 60 votes needed to keep alive legislation that would fund the government until 16 February.

As the clock ticked toward midnight, Mr McConnell and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer huddled in a room just off the Senate floor.

Without some type of funding bill, the US government technically would run out of money by midnight on Friday (5am Saturday UK time).

That would force a government shutdown with scores of federal agencies across the country unable to continue operating.

Shortly before the vote, President Donald Trump tweeted that it was "not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border".
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Republicans argue that the Democrats are holding the government hostage over demands to protect "dreamer" immigrants brought to the country as children and now living in the US illegally.

In the event of a shutdown, hundreds of thousands of US government defence workers, park rangers and business regulators could be temporarily out of work.

Food inspections, federal law enforcement, airport security checks, and other vital services would continue, as would Social Security, other federal benefit programs and military operations.