Washington • Two Senate bills aimed at fully reopening the federal government failed to secure enough votes Thursday, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal employees still furloughed or working without pay in what continues to be the longest closure in American history.
The two competing measures – one backed by President Donald Trump with billions for a border wall and another by Democrats without wall funding – weren't expected to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to advance to a final vote but Thursday's efforts underscored the depth of the political impasse that has now extended 34 days.