US shutdown:talks and blame game continue
Democrats see border wall, the main issue, as immoral, ineffective
WASHINGTON: The partial shutdown of the US federal government entered third week, with President Donald Trump saying there was “not much headway”.
Vice-president Mike Pence’s team, including Trump’s son-inlaw Jared Kushner, will meet congressional officials representing Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer and Republicans to find an end to the stalemate over the funding of a wall along Us-mexico border that partially shut down the government from December 22.
After a briefing from Pence’s team, Trump tweeted “not much headway” as he headed to the Camp David retreat for “meetings on border security and many other topics” with his senior staff.
Before leaving, he told reporters he wasn’t hopeful of an early end to the stalemate. “I don’t expect to have anything happen at that (the Sunday) meeting… but I think we’re going to have some very serious talks come Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.”
“This is a very important battle to win from the standpoint of safety... defining our country and who we are.”
The White House described the meeting on Saturday as “produc- tive” in a readout but conceded there was no progress on the key issue of the wall.
Effect of the shutdown if being felt by the 800,000 federal employees either furloughed or forced to work without pay, who face continued financial uncertainty (they will be paid eventually).
PENTAGON OFFICIAL LEAVES
Kevin Sweeney had resigned as chief of staff to former defence secretary James Mattis, who quit in protest against the abrupt withdrawal of US forces from Syria ordered by President Trump.