Two bills to end government shutdown fail in U.S. Senate

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00:46

The latest proposal backed by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the longest partial government shutdown, which would reopen federal agencies and provide 5.7 billion U.S. dollars for a border wall, failed Thursday in the U.S. Senate.

Something big to take place amid record-breaking government shutdown

The measure did not get the 60 votes needed in the 100-member upper chamber of the Congress to advance. A Democratic proposal without the border fund also failed later with 52 votes of yes, also short of the number to proceed.

In its 34th day, the legislative deadlock leaves the Congress and the U.S. president red-faced and adrift and hundreds of thousands of federal workers, some reliant on food banks to make ends meet, are about to miss a second paycheck.

Trump has insisted on 5.7 billion U.S. dollars for a wall, an idea that was central to his electoral bid and a core part of his hardline policies on illegal immigration. Democrats have rejected his request, and have instead sought to provide funds for other border security measures.

White House drafts emergency order Trump could issue over wall funds: report

Meanwhile, the White House is preparing an emergency declaration that Trump could issue as a way to circumvent the Congress if lawmakers do not provide funding for the wall, CNN reported on Thursday, citing internal documents.

The report came as a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced an amendment in the Senate that would temporarily open the U.S. government.

"We're looking at all our options" but nothing is imminent, a senior Trump administration official said when asked about the report.

If an emergency is declared, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would construct the wall, CNN added.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters