The Senate on Monday killed a chance to avert a federal government shutdown. Republicans voted against it because it was tied to a measure to suspend the debt limit. The continuing resolution, as passed by the Democratic House on a party line vote would also have provided funding for storm cleanup and to help resettle Afghan evacuees.

“Keeping the government open and preventing a default is vital to our country’s future,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, vowing to bring the bill back to the floor later in the week.

Current government spending runs out Thursday night at 11:59. The country is projected to hit its statutory debt limit within the next few weeks.

The Office of Management and Budget began talking with federal agencies last week about operational contingencies if current funding levels aren’t extended into the new fiscal year.

The last lapse in appropriations happened in 2018 and lasted into 2019. But Congress had passed some of that year’s appropriations bills, including for the Department of Defense, which was able to keep running. This time, Congress has completed none of the 12 annual spending bills, which means the military may be scaled back to essential operations.

Marine Corps photo from 2013 by Gunnery Sgt. Ryan O’Hare