GOP senator amid looming shutdown: Country 'being run by idiots'

Sen. John KennedyJohn Neely KennedyMORE (R-La.) blasted Congress on Friday as a government funding deadline approached, slamming the government as being “run by idiots.”

"Our country was founded by geniuses, but it's being run by idiots," Kennedy told reporters hours before the government was set to enter a shutdown.

Another of Kennedy’s colleagues, Sen. Orrin HatchOrrin Grant HatchKoch groups: Don't renew expired tax breaks in government funding bill Hatch tweets link to 'invisible' glasses after getting spotted removing pair that wasn't there DHS giving ‘active defense’ cyber tools to private sector, secretary says MORE (R-Utah), made similar remarks on the Senate floor, saying that the Senate has “some really stupid people.”

"This is the greatest country in the world, but we do have some really stupid people representing it from time to time, and with that, I probably have gone too far saying that, but it's true and it's disappointing to me," Hatch said.

The two Republicans’ comments come as Congress barrels towards the first government shutdown since 2013.

House Republicans passed a short-term government spending bill on Thursday, but Senate Democrats have vowed to block the bill when it comes up for a vote on the Senate floor.

Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerDemocrats will need to explain if they shut government down over illegal immigration White House: Trump remarks didn't derail shutdown talks Schumer defends Durbin after GOP senator questions account of Trump meeting MORE (D-N.Y.) met with President TrumpDonald John TrumpDems flip Wisconsin state Senate seat Sessions: 'We should be like Canada' in how we take in immigrants GOP rep: 'Sheet metal and garbage' everywhere in Haiti MORE at the White House on Friday, but left the meeting without a deal to avert a shutdown, saying there are still a “good number of disagreements” with Trump on immigration and spending.

The Senate will take up a procedural vote on the House-passed spending bill Friday evening, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSessions: 'We should be like Canada' in how we take in immigrants NSA spying program overcomes key Senate hurdle Overnight Finance: Lawmakers see shutdown odds rising | Trump calls for looser rules for bank loans | Consumer bureau moves to revise payday lending rule | Trump warns China on trade deficit MORE (R-KY.) is expected to fall short of the 60 votes necessary to pass the bill.