Without getting money for his Mexico border wall, President Donald
Trump said on Friday he has reached a deal with U.S. lawmakers for three
weeks in stop-gap funding that would end a partial U.S. government
shutdown now in its 35th day.
Trump said on Friday he has reached a deal with U.S. lawmakers for three
weeks in stop-gap funding that would end a partial U.S. government
shutdown now in its 35th day.
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| U.S. President Donald Trump |
Trump had previously insisted on the inclusion of $5.7 billion to
help pay for a wall along the vast U.S.-Mexico border – one of his
signature campaign promises – in any legislation to fund government
agencies but Democrats had blocked him.
help pay for a wall along the vast U.S.-Mexico border – one of his
signature campaign promises – in any legislation to fund government
agencies but Democrats had blocked him.
If lawmakers do not agree after three weeks of talks to provide wall
funding, Trump indicated the shutdown could resume or he could declare a
national emergency to get the money. He also said he was not looking to
build a concrete wall along the entire southern border.
funding, Trump indicated the shutdown could resume or he could declare a
national emergency to get the money. He also said he was not looking to
build a concrete wall along the entire southern border.
The deal came as pressure mounted on Trump and Congress to get the
government fully open and some 800,000 federal employees back on the
job. Trump said he would act to ensure the government workers get back their pay “very quickly, or as soon as possible.”
government fully open and some 800,000 federal employees back on the
job. Trump said he would act to ensure the government workers get back their pay “very quickly, or as soon as possible.”
“I am very proud to announce today that we have reached a deal to end
the shutdown and reopen the federal government,” Trump said in the
White House Rose Garden on a chilly, sunny winter day.
the shutdown and reopen the federal government,” Trump said in the
White House Rose Garden on a chilly, sunny winter day.
The agreement, which would require passage in the House and Senate
and Trump’s signature, would leave his request for wall funding for
later talks, a House Democratic aide said.
and Trump’s signature, would leave his request for wall funding for
later talks, a House Democratic aide said.
“We really have no choice but to build a powerful wall or steel
barrier. If we don’t get a fair deal from Congress, the government will
either shut down on Feb. 15 – again – or I would use the powers afforded
to me under the laws and the Constitution of the United States to
address this emergency,” Trump said.
barrier. If we don’t get a fair deal from Congress, the government will
either shut down on Feb. 15 – again – or I would use the powers afforded
to me under the laws and the Constitution of the United States to
address this emergency,” Trump said.
He previously has indicated he was considering an emergency
declaration to circumvent congressional funding powers if lawmakers do
not fund his wall, an action that almost certainly would be swiftly
challenged by Democrats as exceeding his authority under the U.S.
Constitution.
declaration to circumvent congressional funding powers if lawmakers do
not fund his wall, an action that almost certainly would be swiftly
challenged by Democrats as exceeding his authority under the U.S.
Constitution.
With the effects of the shutdown spreading on Friday, Trump said a
bipartisan congressional conference committee would meet to come up with
a plan for border security.
bipartisan congressional conference committee would meet to come up with
a plan for border security.
Trump triggered the shutdown, which began on Dec. 22, with his
hard-line wall-funding demand but Democrats, who control the House of
Representatives, rejected it on the grounds that a wall would be costly,
ineffective and immoral. Trump, whose Republicans have a majority in
the Senate, has said it is necessary to curb illegal immigration and
drug trafficking.
hard-line wall-funding demand but Democrats, who control the House of
Representatives, rejected it on the grounds that a wall would be costly,
ineffective and immoral. Trump, whose Republicans have a majority in
the Senate, has said it is necessary to curb illegal immigration and
drug trafficking.
Shortly after Trump spoke, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell
said on the Senate floor that he hoped the chamber would vote on the
funding bill later on Friday. The House aide said the chamber could pass
the measure as soon as later Friday if Republicans agree to hold a
vote.
said on the Senate floor that he hoped the chamber would vote on the
funding bill later on Friday. The House aide said the chamber could pass
the measure as soon as later Friday if Republicans agree to hold a
vote.
Hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been furloughed or, as
with some airport workers, required to work without pay. Some federal
agencies have reported much higher absence rates among workers as they
face an indefinite wait for their next paychecks.
with some airport workers, required to work without pay. Some federal
agencies have reported much higher absence rates among workers as they
face an indefinite wait for their next paychecks.
The temporary funding bill would extend agency funding at the last
fiscal year’s levels and would include some money for border security –
but not a wall, which Trump had initially said would be paid for by
Mexico.
fiscal year’s levels and would include some money for border security –
but not a wall, which Trump had initially said would be paid for by
Mexico.
In one of the many effects of the shutdown, hundreds of flights were
grounded or delayed at airports in the New York area and Philadelphia on
Friday as more air traffic controllers called in sick.
grounded or delayed at airports in the New York area and Philadelphia on
Friday as more air traffic controllers called in sick.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for flights
destined for New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Friday morning before
lifting it about an hour later. Staff shortages also delayed flights at
Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International
Airport, the FAA said.
destined for New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Friday morning before
lifting it about an hour later. Staff shortages also delayed flights at
Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International
Airport, the FAA said.
The lapse in funding has shuttered about one-quarter of federal
agencies, with about 800,000 workers either furloughed or required to
work without pay. It is the longest such shutdown in U.S. history. Many
employees as well as contractors were turning to unemployment
assistance, food banks and other support. Others began seeking new jobs.
agencies, with about 800,000 workers either furloughed or required to
work without pay. It is the longest such shutdown in U.S. history. Many
employees as well as contractors were turning to unemployment
assistance, food banks and other support. Others began seeking new jobs.
A Washington Post-ABC News opinion poll published on Friday showed
public disapproval of Trump has swelled 5 percentage points to 58
percent over three months, with a majority of Americans holding him and
congressional Republicans most responsible for the shutdown. The poll
found that more than one in five Americans say they have been personally
inconvenienced by the shutdown.
public disapproval of Trump has swelled 5 percentage points to 58
percent over three months, with a majority of Americans holding him and
congressional Republicans most responsible for the shutdown. The poll
found that more than one in five Americans say they have been personally
inconvenienced by the shutdown.
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