The Senate of the US Congress concluded its meeting on Friday, without voting on the draft resolution on the next temporary extension of the government’s work until February 8, 2019, making it inevitable to partially suspend the work of a number of Federal agencies from midnight on December 22 local time. The meeting was broadcast on the website of the upper chamber of the legislative body of the country.

Earlier, the House of Representatives closed its meeting. Both chambers can now meet only after noon on Saturday (20.00 Saturday Minsk time). Meanwhile, the deadline for reaching a compromise between the two houses of Congress and the US President expires at midnight from Friday to Saturday local time. Since the budget resolution has not been adopted, some departments will be closed from Saturday.

The resolution, which was considered by the Senate on Friday, adopted on the eve the House of Representatives, including the cost of $ 5.7 billion for the construction of the wall on the border with Mexico, which insisted the US President Donald Trump. In support of the resolution, then voted 217 congressmen, 185 — opposed. However, Democrats in the Senate have warned that they have enough votes to block any resolution providing for the financing of the wall in such a large volume. Compromise on this day could not be achieved.

At the moment, the US lawmakers have not adopted the budget for the 2019 financial year, which began in the US on October 1. It was necessary to approve before the end of the day on December 21 (Saturday 08.00 a.m. Minsk time). About a quarter of the Federal government, in particular the state Department, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of trade and the Ministry of internal security, will now be left without funding. For other state institutions, the Congress previously approved the allocation of funds until the end of September 2019.

Trump hopes that the suspension of the government will not last long

The US President Donald Trump said that the suspension of the government will not be avoided, but expressed the hope that it will not last long. He posted a video message on Friday on his Twitter page.

“The suspension of the government will happen, nothing can be done about it,” he said. “Now it’s up to the Senate [of the US Congress] to decide, and in fact — the Democrats, because we need their votes,” trump said, urging Democrats to vote for the allocation of funds for the construction of the wall on the border with Mexico. “Let’s work together on a bipartisan basis and let’s do it. I hope that the suspension of the government will not last long,” the American leader added.