US government shuts down as Congress fails to vote on budget
Senators struggled with last-minute objections from Republican Rand Paul, but have now passed the bill, which has gone to the House for its vote.
The US government has officially shut down for the second time this year because Congress failed to meet a deadline to vote on a new budget.
Senators struggled with last-minute objections from Republican Rand Paul, but have now passed the bill, which has gone to the House for its vote.
Federal funding for government services expired at midnight.
The 600-page plan proposes an increase in spending, by about $300bn (£215bn), on defence and domestic services.
If the plan is passed in the House of Representatives and signed by the president in the next few hours, the shutdown could be rescinded before the US working day begins on Friday.
