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Shutdown showdown: US Senate scrambles to end 34-day funding crisis

US media say the much-anticipated Mueller report is almost complete.

US media say the much-anticipated Mueller report is almost complete. Photo: AAP

US senators are scrambling to end the month-long partial government shutdown crisis after two bills failed to get the votes required to advance in the 100-member chamber.

Democratic and Republican senators spoke on the Senate floor on Friday (Australian time), urging a three-week stop gap funding bill be approved to end the impasse.

The shutdown is estimated to be costing the US economy $US1.2 billion ($A1.7 billion) a week.

With the total now topping $US6 billion, it has likely already cost more than the $US5.7 billion ($8 billion) in border-wall funding that prompted it.

The impasse has left up to 800,000 government workers including air traffic controllers and FBI agents without a pay cheque for a record 34 days.

Secret Service agents are working for no pay and cybersecurity experts fear the shutdown might open the US up to the risk of an attack, according to Business Insider.

The business site said more than 3000 airport security screeners missed work over the holiday weekend and schools are cutting children’s meals.

White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders – who is reportedly holding fewer press briefings since the December 22 shutdown – said in a statement the so-called stop gap bill would only work if “there is a large down-payment on the wall”.

The two opposing bills both fell short of the required vote.

One is backed by President Donald Trump to end the shutdown by funding the wall he wants to build on the US-Mexico border. The other is supported by Democrats to reopen shuttered agencies without such funding.

“To my Democratic friends, money for a barrier is required to get this deal done,” Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who has held talks with Mr Trump, told the House.

“All of us believe if we have three weeks with the government open that we could find a way forward to produce a bill that he would sign. That would be good for everybody in the country.”

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen said a measure to temporarily reopen federal agencies affected by the partial shutdown would be unveiled late on Friday (Australian time).

But in what many see as a desire for compromise, six Republican senators voted with Democrats on their measure to temporarily reopen government agencies without money for Mr Trump’s wall.

They included freshman Senator Mitt Romney, his party’s 2012 presidential nominee.

Democrats House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi also said she was willing to speak to the President to end the shutdown, the longest in US history.

Mr Trump said he wants $US5.7 billion for a border barrier as part of any legislation to fund about a quarter of the federal government for the year.

“Our Country has a chance to greatly reduce Crime, Human Trafficking, Gangs and Drugs. Should have been done for decades. We will not Cave!” Mr Trump said in a tweet, promoting the benefits of a wall.

Despite the six Republican senators crossing the floor to support the Democrats’ latest plan, they still needed a required 60 votes on Thursday (US time) to move to a final vote.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll last week found more than half of Americans blamed Trump for the shutdown.

-with agencies

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