Democrats and Republicans in the Senate are laying the groundwork for a government shutdown standoff as the clock ticks down.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump nominee, denied a request to block the administration from canceling $65 million in contracts between the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the State Department's U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, determining the court lacked jurisdiction to intervene.

Senate Democrats say they are prepared to vote against the Republicans’ bill if lawmakers do not strike a deal by Friday night.