Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of US politics, with the shutdown entering its third day.
Although the Senate is scheduled to return today for another vote, there is little optimism that a deal is imminent as Democrats hold out for a series of health-focused concessions.
Meanwhile, the White House has continued to use its official, taxpayer-funded social media accounts to insult and mock Democrats, treating the standoff more like a political campaign than a negotiation over policy.
In addition, a growing number of federal agencies and staff are explicitly blaming Democrats for the shutdown. The political messaging by the agencies may be a violation of the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.
Furloughed federal employees at some agencies have been instructed to set out-of-office messages explaining that they are not working because Democrats caused a shutdown. Government agency websites also have displayed messages informing site visitors the websites are temporarily on hold due to the “Democrat-led” shutdown.
Other agency websites have used more combative language.
“The radical left has chosen to shut down the United States government in the name of reckless spending and obstructionism,” the treasury department’s website reads.
You can read our full report here
Even warnings over economic damage don’t appear to be encouraging conciliatory moves. A report by EY Parthenon said that every week the shutdown lasts will mean a $7bn hit to the economy.
So stay with us to see what today holds.
