A key procedural vote to advance the House-passed short-term government funding bill failed to clear the Senate hurdle as the government shutdown deadline stares at the Joe Biden administration.

Also read: US government shutdown: Possible impacts of US Congress’ disagreement

The Senate vote on the procedural motion ended with a tally of 48 to 50.  The Republicans opposed the temporary measure because it included an extension of a debt limit. Republicans are adamant that they will not support the debt limit increase and are demanding that Democrats take the political heat for the vote.

The bill also included provisions of disaster relief for recent storms and wildfires in the country.  It would also have provided money to assist evacuees after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer switched his “yes” to “no” at the end in order to allow Democrats to reconsider the bill later, the Associated Press reported.

Time is running out and the government shutdown will be triggered when the clock strikes midnight on Thursday/Friday.  The lawmakers have till then to approve funding for the government.

It’s all making for a tumultuous moment for Biden and his party, with consequences certain to shape his presidency and the lawmakers’ own political futures.

The Treasury Department has warned that the debt limit will be breached sometime in October if it’s not lifted and it will have devastating effects on the country’s economy.

“We will support a clean continuing resolution that will prevent a government shutdown. We will not provide Republican votes for raising the debt limit,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said before the vote, NBC News reported.

As the administration fights to keep the government running, the House is also expected to vote on an infrastructure bill on Thursday that a group of Democrats have threatened to block to maximize their leverage over a separate multitrillion-dollar package.