US shutdown near certain after failed Senate vote

The US Capitol is seen as lawmakers work to avert a government shutdown in Washington, DC. - AFP pic

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump was faced Friday (Saturday morning Malaysian time) with the prospect of marking the first anniversary of his inauguration at the head of a broke government, after senators failed to pass a stop-gap funding measure.

Republicans and Democrats traded blame for the crisis, which came to a head when the Senate failed to agree to bring forward a motion to fund federal spending and the military from midnight.