Washington: US President Donald Trump's administration froze $2.1 billion in Chicago transit funding on Friday, as the bid to end the government shutdown failed in a 54-44 Senate vote. 

On the shutdown's third day, Trump ramped up pressure on Democrats to end the standoff and agree to a Republican plan that would restore government funding. But that fell short of the chamber's 60-vote standard.

The administration has now frozen at least $28 billion in funding for Democratic cities and states, escalating Trump's campaign to use the extraordinary power of the US government to punish political rivals. Trump has made Chicago, the nation's third-largest city, a regular rhetorical punching bag and has threatened to send in National Guard troops.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a high-profile Trump critic seen as a possible 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, said the funding freeze amounted to hostage-taking. The White House said it was also identifying funds that could be withheld from Portland, Oregon, a left-leaning city that was home to high-profile protests during Trump's first term.

Trump has also threatened to fire more federal workers, beyond the 300,000 he is forcing out this year, and dozens of agencies have submitted workforce reduction plans, according to a White House source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Concern about 'bad-faith environment'
Many Republicans say they are not troubled by Trump's pressure campaign, even though it undercuts Congress's constitutional authority over spending matters. In addition to cutting funds to Democratic cities, Trump and his allies have taken to posting social media images with cartoon moustaches and sombreros drawn on his Democratic opponents.

Others say the cuts are complicating efforts to reach a deal that would allow the government to reopen. "If you do that, you're going to create a bad-faith environment here," said Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who is involved in informal talks to end the impasse.

Trump's funding freeze so far has targeted transit and green-energy projects, two areas that are championed by Democrats. His administration has also tried to cut counterterrorism funding for Democratic states, which is typically a Republican priority.

No sign of swift solution
In Washington, the Senate rejected both the Republican funding plan and a Democratic alternative and then adjourned until Monday. The House of Representatives will be out of town all next week, which means it will not be available to vote on any compromise that emerges from the Senate.

If the shutdown stretches past Monday, it will become the fourth-longest in US history.  The longest shutdown lasted 35 days in 2018-2019, during Trump's first term in office.

Trump's pressure campaign did not appear to sway Democrats. Only three voted for the Republican plan, which would extend funding through November 21, the same number who backed it in earlier votes.

The standoff has frozen about $1.7 trillion in funds for agency operations.

Services Interrupted 
The shutdown, the 15th since 1981, has suspended scientific research, financial regulation, and a wide range of other activities. Pay has been suspended for roughly 2 million federal workers, though troops, airport security screeners, and others deemed "essential" must still report to work.

On Friday, the government did not release its monthly unemployment report, leaving Wall Street guessing about the health of the world's largest economy.

A prolonged shutdown could disrupt air travel and food aid for millions of Americans, and also force federal courts to close. Federal workers would miss their first paycheck in mid-October if the standoff is not resolved by then.