Trump likely to agree to two-week government funding extension

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE: US President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday he expects to agree to a two-week extension of funding ahead of a December 7 deadline to fully fund the US government because of former President George HW Bush’s death.

The prospects of a partial government shutdown have been looming in recent days after Trump last week renewed his demand for significant US taxpayer funding of his proposed US-Mexico border wall.

Trump said congressional leaders have sought the shortterm extension and he said he would “absolutely consider it and probably give it.”

Bush died on Friday. His funeral is set for Wednesday in Washington, leaving almost no time to reach a deal ahead of the deadline, congressional aides said Saturday before Trump’s remarks.

Trump told Politico he would “totally be willing” to shut down the federal government unless Congress authorized US$ 5 billion to fund his long-promised wall along the US border with Mexico.

Trump has not followed through on previous threats to shut down the government over funding for the wall, a signature promise of his 2016 election campaign.

Without an extension, Congress must pass a spending bill by Friday to keep some government agencies funded, including the Department of Homeland Security, which polices the border and immigration, as well as the departments of Transportation, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, State, Treasury and Housing and Urban Development.