A government shutdown is becoming increasingly likely after the Senate on Sept. 19 voted against a continuing resolution that would have extended federal funding and several healthcare provisions set to expire this month. The House passed the resolution earlier in the day by a 217-212 vote, but it failed in the Senate 44-48. A competing proposal from Senate Democrats — which would have funded the government through Oct. 31 and included additional healthcare funding — also failed by a 47-45 vote. 

In the Senate, a funding bill generally needs 60 votes to overcome a legislative filibuster, which delays or blocks a final vote. A final vote on a bill actually requires only a simple majority (51 votes), but a minority of senators can use the filibuster to prevent that final vote from happening

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