The Senate on Thursday is voting on whether to pay some federal employees, including service members, as the government shutdown stretches into its fourth week.
The plight of military families has been central to the GOP’s shutdown strategy, and Republican leaders hope to put Democrats on the spot with the bill sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). The vote is not expected to garner enough support to move forward.
The upper chamber will not take up the House-passed funding bill to reopen the federal government on Thursday. Senate Republicans are divided over whether they should negotiate with Democrats on Affordable Care Act subsidies, the crux of the funding fight.
The vote failed for a 12th time on Wednesday.
President Trump on Thursday is slated to make a 3 p.m. announcement about its crackdown on drug cartels and human trafficking. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will brief reporters ahead of Trump’s comments at 1 p.m.
Meanwhile, the president’s demolition of the White House’s East Wing is still drawing scrutiny from critics after Trump announced donors funding the $300 million ballroom project.
Follow along for all the latest updates.
