A government shutdown seems increasingly more likely after Donald Trump decided on Thursday, not to sign a spending bill that would stop it from happening. The fight between Trump and Congress is over funding for a wall on the US-Mexico border. Trump made the promise to build it while on the campaign trail but has failed to secure funding to erect it.
On Wednesday night the Senate passed a stopgap spending bill to avoid a shutdown before Christmas, but on Thursday, Trump and GOP lawmakers said it didn’t go far enough in securing the $5 billion it would take to make good on the lofty campaign promise.
Trump made his displeasure with the situation apparent on Twitter, saying, “When I begrudgingly signed the Omnibus Bill, I was promised the Wall and Border Security by leadership. Would be done by end of year (NOW). It didn’t happen! We foolishly fight for Border Security for other countries – but not for our beloved U.S.A. Not good!”
Trump’s chances of securing the funding are slowly shrinking. In January, Democrats regain control of Congress and are less likely to negotiate on the terms. Even with the Senate in the GOP’s favor, the likelihood that Trump will procure the 60 votes needed to move forward with his plan is slim.
Paul Ryan, the outgoing House Speaker told reporters on Thursday, “We want to keep the government open, but we also want to see an agreement that protects the border.” He continued, “We have very serious concerns about securing our border. The president said he will not sign this bill, so we’re going to go back and work on adding border security to this. Also keeping the government open, because we do want to see an agreement.”
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