The news is trickling out on Friday that a deal may be getting close in Congress for border security, but the White House is warning that a shutdown could happen if the Democrats refuse to negotiate.
According to The Daily Caller:
White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley warned of a possible government shutdown if Congress does not deliver funding for a border wall, in a Friday morning gaggle with reporters at the White House.
“We’re on the verge of a government shutdown again because Democrats won’t come to the table to have a conversation about securing the country,” Gidley warned as a Feb. 15 deadline for congressional negotiations comes to a close.
Trump told reporters Thursday at the White House after being briefed on the progress of the talks by Republican Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby saying, “we’ll see what happens but I certainly hear they’re working on something, and both sides are moving along. We’ll see what happens. We need border security. We have to have it. It’s not an option. Let’s see what happens.”
The negotiations are a result of a 35-day government shutdown lasting from late December to January when Trump demanded $5.7 billion in funding for his proposed wall. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer refused to give in to his demand and offered only $1.6 billion in border security funding, with the stipulation that no funding could be used for new construction on a wall.
Congress has mentioned that a deal can be reached but Trump is showing them that he is not afraid to stand up for a border wall and will shut the government down again.