Government shutdown updates: Leavitt says Trump exploring cutting aid to Portland

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Republicans are now on the hunt for a few additional Democrats to support their "clean," short-term funding bill after three Democrats defected during a vote on the GOP-backed measure earlier Tuesday.

Sens. John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto and Angus King (an independent who caucuses with Democrats) voted with Republicans on a short-term funding bill aimed at keeping the government open for seven more weeks.

Speaking at a press conference Tuesday night, Thune said he intends to bring that bill forward for a vote again on Wednesday -- and he said he believes more Democrats might be willing to support it.

"There are others out there, I think, who don't want to shut down the government but who are being put in a position by their leadership that should make them -- ought to make all of them -- very uncomfortable," Thune said. "So we'll see."

Republican Sen. Rand Paul voted against the Republican bill. But with the multiple Democratic defections, Thune said Republicans will continue their efforts to get enough Democrats on board to pass the short-term funding bill.

Thune said Senate Republicans need eight Democrats total to vote for the measure to ensure passage.

"We are going to have some more votes and we will see where the Democrats come down. I hope we have enough to change their minds and we can keep this government open and responsive to the American people," Thune said.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin

The Senate adjourned for the night Tuesday -- with no remaining paths to keep the government open past 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

The Senate is expected to vote again on Wednesday, likely on the same two measures that failed Tuesday -- a seven-week stopgap bill backed by Republicans and a Democratic-backed bill that extends Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Neither bill got the required 60 votes to pass.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin

With a government shutdown now appearing all but inevitable following two failed votes in the Senate on Tuesday, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought is telling federal agencies they "should now execute their plans for an orderly shutdown."

Government funding is set to lapse at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

In a memo to the heads of federal agencies and departments, Vought cast blame on Democratic senators for the impending shutdown, writing that they are blocking a "clean" continuing resolution to fund the government.

"It is unclear how long Democrats will maintain their untenable posture, making the duration of the shutdown difficult to predict,” Vought wrote. "Regardless, employees should report to work for their next regularly scheduled tour of duty to undertake orderly shutdown activities."

Vought said he would issue another memo indicating that government functions should resume once President Donald Trump signs an appropriations bill.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie and Meghan Mistry

The seven-week stopgap funding measure supported by Republicans was rejected by the Senate by a vote of 55-45, all but guaranteeing the government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

Democrats mostly hung together to deny the 60 votes necessary to keep the government funded as they continue to say that any funding solution most include health care-related provisions. But several Democrats did cross party lines and voted in favor of the clean funding bill.

Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and John Fetterman voted for the bill, as did Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats.

Sen. Rand Paul was the only Republican to vote against the bill.

-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin