Both Maine U.S. Senators voted in favor of a temporary spending plan on Tuesday, which would have kept the federal government running.
Republican Susan Collins and Independent Angus King voted for the GOP-backed plan – also known as a “continuing resolution – which would have kept the government functioning for seven weeks.
The measure failed to pass, which has sent the government into a partial shutdown that will affect the delivery of federal services to the public.
Senator King notably broke with Democrats, whom he typically sides with, to back the spending plan.
King called his action a “vote of conscience” to oppose the Trump administration’s threat to permanently fire federal employees if the shutdown takes place.
“The irony – the paradox is – by shutting the government, we’re actually giving Donald Trump more power,” said King. “And that was why I voted yes. I did not want to hand Donald Trump and Russell Vought and Stephen Miller additional power to decimate the federal government, to decimate the programs that are so important to so many people.”
The temporary spending plan failed by a 55-45 vote, with Democrats Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania joining King to vote Yes.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky was the Republican to vote against the plan. The measure needed a reach a 60 vote threshold to pass.