US President Donald Trump warns congressional Democrats his administration would take "irreversible" actions if they allow government funding to expire at midnight, including mass firings of federal workers.

"We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them and irreversible by them, like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like," Trump told reporters from the Oval Office.

Trump's threat to target programs favoured by Democrats in the event of a government shutdown rang alarm bells as lawmakers girded for a last-minute attempt to extend funding past midnight, when the fiscal year ends.

A Democratic proposal that would extend health benefits for millions of Americans failed 47-53 in the Senate.

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