WASHINGTON, D.C. — A partial government shutdown took effect at midnight on Friday as lawmakers failed to reach a deal to keep several federal agencies funded. Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump threatened that “there will be a shutdown that will last for a very long time” if Senate Democrats don’t vote for a spending bill with funds earmarked for a border wall.
On Thursday, Trump informed House Republicans he would not sign a stopgap funding bill that had passed in the Senate. A bill passed in the House of Representatives later on Thursday included $5 billion in funding for the border wall but it was unlikely to pass in the Senate. When both the House and the Senate adjourned for the day on Friday, it was clear that a shutdown was eminent.
Trump was tweeting non-stop about getting the spending bill passed Friday morning. He called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to “fight for the Wall and Border Security as hard as he has fought for anything.” Trump, who said he would be “proud” to shut down the government also tried to shift blame for the shutdown to Democrats. He also suggested that McConnell should change Senate rules so the spending bill could be passed without any Democratic votes. McConnell has previously resisted the rule change and a spokesman for the majority leader reiterated his opposition.
McConnell urged approval of the bill passed by the House saying it is neithger “radical” nor difficult to explain.
Here’s five things to know about the government shutdown that comes just a few days before Christmas:
Reporting and writing from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Photo by Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press
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