US gov't to shut down at midnight as Senate recesses until 12:01 am Friday

WASHINGTON - The US government is to shut down at midnight as Senate went into recess and missed a midnight deadline to pass a short-term funding bill.

Senator Rand Paul on Thursday blocked the Senate from a vote on a short-term funding bill which will fund the government through March 23 and a bipartisan budget package which will set spending framework for fiscal year 2018 and 2019.

Paul opposed the budget package, saying it will further add debt and fiscal deficit to the government.

The budget package, agreed by the leaders from both Republican and Democratic parties and supported by President Donald Trump, will increase defense and non-defense spending by about 300 billion US dollars for the next two years, and also raise the debt ceiling through March 2019.

The Senate recessed around 11 pm Thursday (0400 GMT Friday) with plans to reconvene just after midnight.

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Thursday has directed federal agencies to prepare for a lapse in funding.