Washington (AFP) - The US government shutdown appeared likely to stretch into next week as senators prepared Friday to vote for a fourth time on a funding fix proposed by Donald Trump’s Republicans that has little hope of success.

Federal agencies have been out of money since Wednesday – with a wide range of public services crippled – as a result of deadlocked talks in Congress on how to keep the lights on.

Tourist sites such as the Washington Monument were closed, key data on employment has been delayed and some official websites have ground to a halt, but other areas of government have yet to be affected.

Some 750,000 employees are likely to be put on furlough – a kind of enforced leave with backpay after the shutdown – as the funding crisis deepens.

Senate leaders have no plans to keep the upper chamber of Congress in session over the weekend, which means a Friday afternoon vote on a short-term fix that has already been repeatedly rejected will be the last chance of the week to end the crisis.

At the center of the standoff is a Democratic demand for an extension of health care subsidies that are due to expire – meaning sharply increased costs for millions of low-income Americans.

Republicans – who control the legislature and the White House but need Democratic votes on government funding bills – have announced no plans to address the issue.

The Democrats are trying to force Republicans to address the issue by blocking a Trump-backed funding resolution that needs a handful of their votes.

Amid widespread pessimism over the possibility of a quick solution, Republicans voiced hopes that a fourth failed vote might push some moderates in the opposition to cross the aisle.

“Hopefully over the weekend, they’ll have a chance to think about it,” Republican Senate leader John Thune told reporters at the US Capitol.

“Maybe some of these conversations start to result in something to where we can start moving some votes and actually get this thing passed.”

- Blame game -

Senate Democrats are expected to hammer out strategy for week two of the shutdown at their caucus lunch just ahead of the vote, while House Republicans have scheduled a call with all members on Saturday.

Complicating efforts to strike a deal is the threat from Trump to turn thousands of those furloughs into permanent redundancies, strip funding and slash benefits as he ramps up pressure on the Democrats.

With an announcement on layoffs expected any day, Trump’s budget chief Russ Vought is planning to brief Republican senators next week.

The House of Representatives has been on recess and Republican Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters he has been meeting the president ahead of its return to discuss plans for layoffs.

Johnson accused Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of pushing the shutdown because the veteran New Yorker is “terrified” of left-wing activists grabbing his seat in 2028 elections.

“Chuck Schumer is a far-left, progressive politician but he’s not far enough left for this base and so he’s got to show a fight against the president,” Johnson said.

Democrats have so far been winning the messaging war, however, with most polls showing them getting less blame than Republicans over the gridlock in Congress.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told a news conference Thursday that the public turning against Trump would force Republicans to the negotiating table over their health care demands.

“The American people are paying close attention, and they know that it was Donald Trump and Republicans who have shut the government down,” he said.