The U.S. federal government has begun a partial shutdown after the Senate failed to reach a deal over a spending bill,... that includes funding for a wall on the border with Mexico.<br />The government's main functions won't be affected, but some federal employees will be put on leave.<br />President Trump wants some 5 billion dollars for the wall... out of a budget worth more than 4 trillion.<br />Both he and the Democrats are digging in.<br />Kim Min-ji reports. <br />The U.S. government has entered a partial shutdown after the Senate failed to break a budget impasse.<br />The Senate adjourned late Friday without passing the spending bill to fund the government through early February.<br />The sticking point was the 5-point-7 billion U.S. dollars set aside to fund President Donald Trump's plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.<br />With the midnight deadline expiring with no deal -- funding for a quarter of all U.S. federal agencies expired -- meaning some hundreds of thousands of federal employees will have to work unpaid or be put on temporary leave.<br /><br />President Trump said there was nothing he can do about the government shutdown because he needs cooperation from the Democrats.<br /><br /><br />"Let's get out, let's work together, let's be bipartisan, and let's get it done. The shutdown hopefully won't last long."<br /><br />The Democrats have been strongly against the idea -- and are resolute that U.S. taxpayers should not fund the president's plan.<br /><br /><br />"You will not get your wall. Abandon your shutdown strategy. You’re not getting your wall today, next week, or on January 3 when Democrats take control of the House."<br /><br />The House on Thursday approved the spending bill,... but it hit a stumbling block in the Senate -- where 60 votes are needed to pass the bill.<br />The Republicans have only 51 seats.<br /><br />Talks between White House officials and Republican and Democrat leaders are expected to continue over the weekend.<br />But the shutdown is expected to limited immediate impact as it falls on an extended holiday weekend.<br />The midnight closure is the third shutdown so far this year.<br />Kim Min-ji, Arirang News. <br />
