US shutdown: Congress renews talks with little early progress

The US Congress has begun rare Saturday sessions to try to break the impasse over budget spending that has led to a partial shutdown of the government, BBC reported.

The shutdown began at midnight on Friday after Democrats resisted President Donald Trump’s demands for $5bn (£4bn) for his Mexico border wall.

There was little early progress on Saturday, with Mr Trump warning there could be “a long stay” in the talks.

And Democrats told the president: “You must abandon the wall.”

Nine of 15 federal departments, including State, Homeland Security, Transportation, Agriculture and Justice began partially shutting down after funding for them lapsed at midnight (05:00GMT Saturday).

Hundreds of thousands of federal employees will have to work unpaid or are furloughed, a kind of temporary leave. This is the third time US federal funding has lapsed so far this year, although the other two were brief.

What’s been happening on Saturday?

The Senate opened its session at about noon local time, with stark warnings from both Republicans and Democrats.

Republican majority leader Mitch McConnell said the “pause button” had been pushed and that there would be no new Senate vote until he had a signature from the president – and agreement from the Democrats – on a budget deal.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said a budget bill that had passed the Republican-controlled House on Thursday approving $5.7bn (£4.5bn) of funding for the wall would “never pass the Senate, not today, not next week, not next year”.

He added: “So Mr President, if you want to open the government, you must abandon the wall, plain and simple.

“The Senate is not interested in swindling American taxpayers for an unnecessary, ineffective and wasteful policy.”

In a tweet on Saturday, Mr Trump said he was “working hard in the White House”. He said that “we are negotiating with the Democrats on desperately needed border security” but that the talks “could be a long stay”.

He again defended the wall, saying “the crisis of illegal activity at our southern border is real and will not stop until we build a great steel barrier or wall. Let the work begin!”

Some Republican lawmakers still hope there can be a deal, perhaps involving less money for the wall.

How did we get here?

On Wednesday, a bilateral deal appeared to have been agreed in the Senate to keep federal agencies open until 8 February. But the agreement did not include funding for the wall.

Mr Trump then dug his heels in over the issue after criticism from conservative talk show hosts and other allies, and insisted that funds for the wall must be included for him to sign the budget off.

The House then passed a bill with such funding, with Mr Trump well aware the Democrats will be taking control of the legislature in January and wall funding will stall.

But Mr Trump does not have the 60 votes in the 100-seat Senate he needs to get the House budget passed.

He earlier suggested that Mr McConnell should invoke the so-called “nuclear option” to break the impasse.

That would mean the bill could be approved in the Senate with a simple majority.

But Mr McConnell has repeatedly refused in the past to invoke such an extreme manoeuvre.

What does the shutdown mean?

About 380,000 government employees will be made to take temporary, unpaid leave.

Meanwhile, 420,000 employees working in essential roles – considered necessary for the “protection of life and property” – will keep working, without being paid.

In practice, this means that:

Customs and border staff will keep working, although their pay will be delayed. Airports will continue operating.

About 80% of National Parks employees will be sent home, and parks could close – although some may stay open with limited staff and facilities.

About 90% of housing department workers will take unpaid leave, which could delay loan processing and approvals.

Most of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be sent on unpaid leave, including those who assist taxpayers with queries.

The Food and Drug Administration will pause routine inspections but “continue vital activities”.

The remaining 75% of the federal government is fully funded until September 2019 – so the defence, veterans affairs, labour and education departments are not affected.

 

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