US government shutdown continues as Senate blocks Republican-backed funding bill for 13th time

​​​​​​​ISTANBUL

The US government shutdown continues as the Senate on Tuesday failed to pass a Republican-backed funding bill to end the stalemate for the 13th time, falling six votes short at 54-45, CBS News reported.

Vice President JD Vance is set to meet Senate Republicans for lunch at the Capitol.

Republicans are also weighing whether to advance measures to pay certain federal workers or fund programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the shutdown. The program provides monthly food assistance to low-income households to buy groceries.

Pressure is mounting on Democrats as the largest federal employee union urged the passage Monday of a clean continuing resolution to fund the government until late November, and "end this shutdown."

Federal workers have already missed a paycheck, and future payments, including military salaries, could be threatened.