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Demanding Wall Funding, Trump Balks at Bill to Avert Shutdown Demanding Wall Funding, Trump Balks at Bill to Avert Shutdown
(about 1 hour later)
WASHINGTON — President Trump torpedoed a spending deal and sent the government careening toward a Christmastime shutdown on Thursday over his demand of $5 billion for a wall on the southwestern border, refusing to sign a stopgap measure to keep funds flowing past midnight Friday. WASHINGTON — President Trump on Thursday torpedoed a spending deal and sent the government careening toward a Christmastime shutdown over his demand of $5 billion for a wall on the southwestern border, refusing to sign a stopgap measure to keep funds flowing past midnight Friday.
With Mr. Trump unwilling to admit defeat on his signature campaign promise despite a clear lack of votes to get it through Congress, House Republican leaders scrambled for a way out of the year-end morass. On a dizzying day in the Capitol, they prepared legislation to add $5 billion for the wall to a measure to extend government funding into February, in a last-ditch effort to force it through in the final hours of their majority. It would also put them on record backing the president’s hard-line immigration promises. With Mr. Trump unwilling to admit defeat on his signature campaign promise despite a clear lack of votes to get it through Congress, House Republican leaders scrambled for a way out of the year-end morass. On a dizzying day in the Capitol, House Republicans pushed through legislation to add $5.7 billion for the wall to a measure to extend government funding into February, making a last stand in the final hours of their majority to back the president’s hard-line immigration promises.
The bill would surely die in the Senate, but in an appropriate denouement to a Congress plagued with dysfunction — much of it at the hands of the president — Republicans were unsure that they could even pass that empty political gesture through the House. As the spectacle unfurled, stock prices tumbled, economic uncertainty rose — and to cap off the chaos, the secretary of defense, Jim Mattis, retired in protest of the president’s policies. The bill is almost certain to die in the Senate, where it would need bipartisan support. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, told senators scattered around the country to return Friday for another vote. The House approved it on a nearly party-line vote of 217 to 185.
As uncertainty reigned, stock prices tumbled, economic uncertainty rose, and to cap off the chaos, the secretary of defense, Jim Mattis, resigned in protest of the president’s policies.
“It is a shame that this president, who is plunging the nation into chaos, is throwing another temper tantrum and going to hurt lots of innocent people,” Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, said during an evening news conference in the Capitol, as the House prepared to vote on its revised measure. “The Trump temper tantrum may produce a government shutdown; it will not get him his wall.”“It is a shame that this president, who is plunging the nation into chaos, is throwing another temper tantrum and going to hurt lots of innocent people,” Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, said during an evening news conference in the Capitol, as the House prepared to vote on its revised measure. “The Trump temper tantrum may produce a government shutdown; it will not get him his wall.”
Mr. Trump appeared undeterred.Mr. Trump appeared undeterred.
“I’ve made my position very clear: Any measure that funds the government has to include border security, has to,” Mr. Trump said during a ceremony at the White House, delivering a screed against illegal immigration that recalled the themes of his presidential campaign, including fearsome statistics suggesting many undocumented immigrants were murderers and rapists. “We have no choice.” “I’ve made my position very clear: Any measure that funds the government has to include border security, has to,” Mr. Trump said during a ceremony at the White House, delivering a screed against illegal immigration that recalled the themes of his presidential campaign, including fearsome purported statistics suggesting many unauthorized immigrants were murderers and rapists. “We have no choice.”
Hours earlier, Mr. Trump had privately told House Republican leaders during a hastily called meeting that he would not sign legislation passed by Wednesday night by the Senate to keep the government running until Feb. 8. His maneuver upended days of frenzied planning by lawmakers in his own party who had tried to devise a strategy that would satisfy a president who refused to say what he would support. As they scrambled, Mr. Trump’s attitude about whether to cut a deal or fight appeared to shift by the hour. Hours earlier, Mr. Trump had privately told House Republican leaders during a hastily called meeting that he would not sign legislation passed Wednesday night by the Senate to keep the government running until Feb. 8. His maneuver upended days of frenzied planning by lawmakers in his own party who had tried to devise a strategy that would satisfy a president who refused to say what he would support. As they scrambled, Mr. Trump’s attitude about whether to cut a deal or fight appeared to shift by the hour.
On Thursday, though, there was no mistaking the president’s stand. For the second time in two weeks, he was digging in for a shutdown fight over taxpayer funding for the wall, a project he once promised that Mexico would finance, but that has instead become an irritant hanging over every debate over federal spending. It has also become a potent symbol of how Mr. Trump is willing to buck consensus on Capitol Hill and empower a small minority of ultraconservative members. On Thursday, though, there was no mistaking the president’s stand. For the second time in two weeks, he was digging in for a shutdown fight over taxpayer funding for the wall, a project that he once promised Mexico would finance but that has instead become an irritant hanging over every debate over federal spending. It has also become a potent symbol of how Mr. Trump is willing to buck consensus on Capitol Hill and empower a small minority of ultraconservative members.
The president balked at the Senate bill only after coming under attack from conservative commentators on Fox News and social media for failing to fight for the wall. Personalities like Ann Coulter and members of the House Freedom Caucus warned that if he did not veto the Senate-passed measure that failed to fund it, he would lose the backing of his core supporters — and any chance at re-election.The president balked at the Senate bill only after coming under attack from conservative commentators on Fox News and social media for failing to fight for the wall. Personalities like Ann Coulter and members of the House Freedom Caucus warned that if he did not veto the Senate-passed measure that failed to fund it, he would lose the backing of his core supporters — and any chance at re-election.
“The sun has not yet set on our majority,” Representative Mark Meadows, Republican of North Carolina and the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, wrote in an op-ed article posted on Fox’s website. “Let’s stand up and fight. It’s now or never.” “The sun has not yet set on our majority,” Representative Mark Meadows, Republican of North Carolina and the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, wrote in an op-ed posted on Fox’s website. “Let’s stand up and fight. It’s now or never.”
Mr. Meadows then accompanied House Republican leaders to the White House on Thursday to discuss the issue with Mr. Trump, and by early afternoon, the House delegation had joined Mr. Trump’s chorus. Mr. Meadows, who had spent much of Wednesday evening and Thursday morning spoiling for a veto of the Senate’s stopgap spending measure and a House vote to force through the $5 billion in wall funding, then accompanied House Republican leaders to the White House to discuss the issue with Mr. Trump. By early afternoon, the House delegation had joined Mr. Trump’s chorus.
“The president was very adamant that he would not support the continuing resolution coming over from the Senate,” said Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the majority leader, as he returned to the Capitol after the session with Mr. Trump. “We’ll be able to move forward and keep the government open.”“The president was very adamant that he would not support the continuing resolution coming over from the Senate,” said Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the majority leader, as he returned to the Capitol after the session with Mr. Trump. “We’ll be able to move forward and keep the government open.”
But it was not clear how those two imperatives could coexist. Many House Republicans, particularly those who lost re-election races or are retiring, have been absent from Washington as the lame-duck Congress limps to a close, and several officials and lawmakers said it was uncertain whether there would be enough support to force through their plan, which would add not only the $5 billion for the wall but still more money for disaster relief. But it was not clear how those two imperatives could coexist given the reality in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to advance major legislation and Republicans control only 51.
And Mr. Trump’s zeal for a wall is not shared by all Republicans. “Here we are, twisting in the wind at 7 p.m. on the day before the government shuts down — what a sad performance, what a regrettable lack of responsibility,” said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat, minutes before the House voted. “We are playing political games here to pander to the president of the United States, who sadly rejected a compromise that was reached by all of us.”
“I don’t know if it has the votes — it could be very close,” said Representative Carlos Curbelo, Republican of Florida, whom Mr. Trump mocked after he lost his re-election race last month. The Senate-passed measure would have extended the government funding for nine federal departments and several federal agencies past midnight Friday. Instead of confronting the president over his intransigence, Republican leaders fell in line.
Mr. Curbelo said he would oppose the measure to add wall funding to the spending bill.
That spending bill would extend the government funding for nine federal departments and several federal agencies past midnight Friday. Instead of confronting the president over his intransigence, Republican leaders fell in line.
“We want to keep the government open, but we also want to see an agreement that protects the border,” said Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin. “We have very serious concerns about securing our border.”“We want to keep the government open, but we also want to see an agreement that protects the border,” said Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin. “We have very serious concerns about securing our border.”
It was an ignominious end to the tenure of Mr. Ryan, who just one day before had given his farewell speech lamenting the outrage-fueled nature of the political discourse and its role in scuttling compromise on major issues including immigration. Mr. Ryan, whose speakership was diminished by an inability to maneuver around the Freedom Caucus at critical moments, had long advocated a broad immigration compromise, but he spent his final hours in the post waging a futile and divisive fight to erect a border wall.It was an ignominious end to the tenure of Mr. Ryan, who just one day before had given his farewell speech lamenting the outrage-fueled nature of the political discourse and its role in scuttling compromise on major issues including immigration. Mr. Ryan, whose speakership was diminished by an inability to maneuver around the Freedom Caucus at critical moments, had long advocated a broad immigration compromise, but he spent his final hours in the post waging a futile and divisive fight to erect a border wall.
The chaos on Thursday in Washington helped send stock prices plummeting. On the edge of one of the biggest travel weekends of the year, the Transportation Security Administration and air traffic control system were about to run out of money, though most of their employees would have to work without pay. Visitors to the national parks were forced to rethink travel plans.The chaos on Thursday in Washington helped send stock prices plummeting. On the edge of one of the biggest travel weekends of the year, the Transportation Security Administration and air traffic control system were about to run out of money, though most of their employees would have to work without pay. Visitors to the national parks were forced to rethink travel plans.
[What to expect if parts of the government run out of funding this weekend.][What to expect if parts of the government run out of funding this weekend.]
“This is no way to run the corner grocery store, let alone the government of the United States,” said Representative Dan Kildee, Democrat of Michigan.“This is no way to run the corner grocery store, let alone the government of the United States,” said Representative Dan Kildee, Democrat of Michigan.
As Republicans toiled to corral the votes for doomed legislation to fund Mr. Trump’s wall, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the minority leader who is likely to become speaker in two weeks, used procedural maneuvers to make it clear that it was Republicans who were standing in the way of continuing funding for the government. She tried to force action on a measure to do so, prompting an objection from Republican leaders and a vote in which Republicans voted no. As Republicans toiled to corral the votes for their doomed legislation to fund Mr. Trump’s wall, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the minority leader who is likely to become speaker in two weeks, used procedural maneuvers to make it clear that it was Republicans who were standing in the way of continuing funding for the government. She tried to force action on a measure to do so, prompting an objection from Republican leaders and a vote in which Republicans voted no.
“We’re right in the middle of a sort of a meltdown on the part of the Republicans,” Ms. Pelosi told reporters, declining to speculate on how the drama would end. “They’re having a breakdown over this.”“We’re right in the middle of a sort of a meltdown on the part of the Republicans,” Ms. Pelosi told reporters, declining to speculate on how the drama would end. “They’re having a breakdown over this.”
Republican leaders began the day with a sense of dread, worried about opposition to the Senate bill among their rank-and-file but unable to assure them that if they did vote for the package, the president would sign it. Their closed-door morning meeting devolved into a tense and confused free-for-all as Mr. Meadows and other Freedom Caucus members said the House should fight for Mr. Trump’s wall, rather than accept what the Senate had sent.Republican leaders began the day with a sense of dread, worried about opposition to the Senate bill among their rank-and-file but unable to assure them that if they did vote for the package, the president would sign it. Their closed-door morning meeting devolved into a tense and confused free-for-all as Mr. Meadows and other Freedom Caucus members said the House should fight for Mr. Trump’s wall, rather than accept what the Senate had sent.
“That allows House members to be able to go back to our districts and say that we did what we can to fulfill the president’s commitment,” said Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida. “That’s better than just beginning with surrender.”“That allows House members to be able to go back to our districts and say that we did what we can to fulfill the president’s commitment,” said Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida. “That’s better than just beginning with surrender.”
But Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the third-ranking Republican, argued that the House could accept the stopgap measure and still fight for the wall after the new Congress convenes, forcing Democrats into a messy debate over it just as they assumed control.But Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the third-ranking Republican, argued that the House could accept the stopgap measure and still fight for the wall after the new Congress convenes, forcing Democrats into a messy debate over it just as they assumed control.
In the middle of the session, Mr. Ryan stepped away to take a call from Mr. Trump, who vented his frustration about the situation, according to two officials who were briefed on the call. Moments later, the president took to Twitter to blame leaders in his own party for failing to fund the border wall, suggesting they had promised a spending bill earlier this year would be the last without wall funding. In the middle of the session, Mr. Ryan stepped away to take a call from Mr. Trump, who vented his frustration about the situation, according to two officials who were briefed on the call. Moments later, the president took to Twitter to blame leaders in his own party for failing to fund the border wall, suggesting they had promised that a spending bill earlier this year would be the last without wall funding.
“When I begrudgingly signed the Omnibus Bill, I was promised the Wall and Border Security by leadership,” Mr. Trump wrote, referring to the $1.3 trillion spending bill he signed in March. “Would be done by end of year (NOW). It didn’t happen!”“When I begrudgingly signed the Omnibus Bill, I was promised the Wall and Border Security by leadership,” Mr. Trump wrote, referring to the $1.3 trillion spending bill he signed in March. “Would be done by end of year (NOW). It didn’t happen!”
Ms. Coulter was one of several conservative supporters who warned that the president would jeopardize his re-election prospects if he failed to secure wall funding. The hashtag #BuildTheWallOrGOPWillFall circulated among a number of conservative Twitter accounts. A private GoFundMe account to rally citizens to finance the wall had raised close to $10 million by the end of the day.Ms. Coulter was one of several conservative supporters who warned that the president would jeopardize his re-election prospects if he failed to secure wall funding. The hashtag #BuildTheWallOrGOPWillFall circulated among a number of conservative Twitter accounts. A private GoFundMe account to rally citizens to finance the wall had raised close to $10 million by the end of the day.
“On the basis of his self-interest alone, he must know that if he doesn’t build the wall, he has zero chance of being re-elected and a 100 percent chance of being utterly humiliated,” Ms. Coulter wrote in a blog post Wednesday night.“On the basis of his self-interest alone, he must know that if he doesn’t build the wall, he has zero chance of being re-elected and a 100 percent chance of being utterly humiliated,” Ms. Coulter wrote in a blog post Wednesday night.
“The time to fight is now,” said Representative Paul Gosar, Republican of Arizona, who joined the pair Wednesday night on the House floor in railing against the lack of border wall funding. “I mean, this is stupid.” ”“The time to fight is now,” said Representative Paul Gosar, Republican of Arizona, who joined the pair Wednesday night on the House floor in railing against the lack of border wall funding. “I mean, this is stupid.” ”