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Shutdown enters day eight with Trump unmoved and Democrats determined Shutdown enters day eight with Trump brooding in White House
(35 minutes later)
The partial shutdown of the US government rolled into its eighth day on Saturday, with no resolution in sight.The partial shutdown of the US government rolled into its eighth day on Saturday, with no resolution in sight.
America’s new year’s resolution: impeach Trump and remove himAmerica’s new year’s resolution: impeach Trump and remove him
Donald Trump says he will not sign any funding legislation sent by Congress without $5bn for a wall on the border with Mexico. Democrats who take over the House of Representatives on 3 January will not give it to him. “I am in the White House waiting for the Democrats to come on over and make a deal on Border Security,” Donald Trump tweeted on Saturday morning, seemingly impervious to mounting criticism over his lack of outreach to the opposing party or even appearances in public. Forgoing a planned Florida vacation, the president has hunkered down in the White House.
“From what I hear,” he added, Democrats “are spending so much time on Presidential Harassment that they have little time left for things like stopping crime and our military!”
That message followed a tweeted complaint about Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian election interference and links between Trump aides and Moscow. He also said he had “a long and very good call with President Xi of China”, about trade.
Trump says he will not sign any funding legislation sent by Congress without $5bn for a wall on the border with Mexico. Democrats who take over the House of Representatives on 3 January will not give it to him.
Each side blames the other for the shutdown, the effects of which grow more severe each day. Federal payments to some farmers badly hit by Trump’s trade war with China will be put on hold from next week and will not resume until the government reopens. The work of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is increasingly affected.Each side blames the other for the shutdown, the effects of which grow more severe each day. Federal payments to some farmers badly hit by Trump’s trade war with China will be put on hold from next week and will not resume until the government reopens. The work of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is increasingly affected.
Trump has repeatedly tweeted about the need for border security and the Democrats’ supposed disregard for it. On Friday he said he would close the southern border entirely if necessary. Democratic leadership has repeatedly pointed to an Oval Office meeting earlier this month in which Trump said he would be proud to be the cause of a shutdown, and to his U-turn on a Senate deal to continue funding the government. Trump has repeatedly tweeted about the need for border security and the Democrats’ supposed disregard for it, saying on Friday he would close the southern border entirely if necessary. Democratic leadership has repeatedly pointed to an Oval Office meeting earlier this month in which Trump said he would be proud to be the cause of a shutdown, and to his U-turn on a Senate deal to continue funding the government.
On Friday, acting White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, told Fox News: “There’s not a single Democrat talking to the president of the United States about this deal.” Democrats have repeatedly said they do not need to talk, as they will simply pass legislation to fund the government once they assume control of the House. Such bills will not include wall funding.On Friday, acting White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, told Fox News: “There’s not a single Democrat talking to the president of the United States about this deal.” Democrats have repeatedly said they do not need to talk, as they will simply pass legislation to fund the government once they assume control of the House. Such bills will not include wall funding.
Mulvaney also sought to pin blame for the shutdown on the incoming House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, whom the Trump administration has sought to portray as beholden to the left of her party. But neither Trump or anyone from his administration have spoken to Pelosi since 11 December and Democrats have rejected the characterisation. Justin Goodman, a spokesman for Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, told reporters on Friday: “For the White House to try and blame anyone but the president for this shutdown doesn’t pass the laugh test.” Mulvaney also sought to pin blame for the shutdown on the incoming House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, whom the Trump administration has sought to portray as beholden to the left of her party. But neither Trump or anyone from his administration has spoken to Pelosi since the 11 December Oval Office meeting and Democrats have rejected the characterisation. Justin Goodman, a spokesman for the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, told reporters on Friday: “For the White House to try and blame anyone but the president for this shutdown doesn’t pass the laugh test.”
On Friday night, amidst criticism over his lack of outreach to Democrats, Trump met Vice-President Mike Pence at his residence, the US Naval Observatory. Mulvaney and senior adviser Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, also attended the dinner. The press secretary, Sarah Sanders, said earlier Trump had “no plans as of now” to travel to his Mar-a-Lago resort to see in the new year. The president had planned a long Christmas vacation in Florida. On Friday night, Trump met Vice-President Mike Pence at his residence, the US Naval Observatory. Mulvaney and senior adviser Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, also attended the dinner. The press secretary, Sarah Sanders, said earlier Trump had “no plans as of now” to travel to his Mar-a-Lago resort to see in the new year.
Hundreds of thousands of federal workers and contractors have been forced to stay home or work without pay over Christmas, leaving agencies scrambling to provide essential services. The EPA said on Friday it would keep disaster-response teams and other essential workers on the job as it starts furloughing many of its 14,000 employees. A spokeswoman said the agency would implement its shutdown plan at midnight, a week after the standoff began. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers and contractors remain at home or at work without pay, leaving agencies scrambling to provide essential services. The EPA said on Friday it would keep disaster-response teams and other essential workers on the job as it starts furloughing many of its 14,000 employees. A spokeswoman said the agency would implement its shutdown plan at midnight.
As winter storms affected swaths of the country, the Trump administration decided to reverse guidance issued by the Department of Homeland Security that would have prevented the Federal Emergency Management Agency from writing or renewing National Flood Insurance Program policies during the shutdown.As winter storms affected swaths of the country, the Trump administration decided to reverse guidance issued by the Department of Homeland Security that would have prevented the Federal Emergency Management Agency from writing or renewing National Flood Insurance Program policies during the shutdown.
Trump-Russia: Republican probe of alleged FBI bias ends 'with a whimper'Trump-Russia: Republican probe of alleged FBI bias ends 'with a whimper'
Vital Department of Agriculture programs will also remain operational, though that could change if the shutdown lasts more than a few weeks. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known colloquially as food stamps, helps feed about 40 million people. According to the agriculture department, recipients are guaranteed benefits through January.Vital Department of Agriculture programs will also remain operational, though that could change if the shutdown lasts more than a few weeks. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known colloquially as food stamps, helps feed about 40 million people. According to the agriculture department, recipients are guaranteed benefits through January.
Other programmes including WIC, which provides food aid and nutrition counseling for pregnant women, new mothers and children, and food distribution programs on Indian reservations, will continue. But additional federal funding will not be provided. School lunch programs will continue through February.Other programmes including WIC, which provides food aid and nutrition counseling for pregnant women, new mothers and children, and food distribution programs on Indian reservations, will continue. But additional federal funding will not be provided. School lunch programs will continue through February.
The federal Office of Personnel Management has posted online sample letters it says workers can consider sending to landlords and creditors including mortgage lenders, explaining their difficult situation.
In Washington, Smithsonian museums and galleries will begin to close on 2 January. So will the National Zoo and an ice rink near the National Mall. The attractions have stayed open by using unspent funds which are about to run out.In Washington, Smithsonian museums and galleries will begin to close on 2 January. So will the National Zoo and an ice rink near the National Mall. The attractions have stayed open by using unspent funds which are about to run out.
The Smithsonian runs the zoo, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of Natural History and several galleries including the National Portrait Gallery. The National Gallery of Art is separate. It will close on 3 January. That includes an ice rink in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden that is popular with families.The Smithsonian runs the zoo, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of Natural History and several galleries including the National Portrait Gallery. The National Gallery of Art is separate. It will close on 3 January. That includes an ice rink in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden that is popular with families.
The shutdown also is affecting national parks. Some remain accessible with bare-bones staffing levels, some are operating with money from states or charitable groups. Others are closed.The shutdown also is affecting national parks. Some remain accessible with bare-bones staffing levels, some are operating with money from states or charitable groups. Others are closed.
Trump administrationTrump administration
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
US politicsUS politics
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