Govt Shutdown longest in U.S. history

A partial US government shutdown over President Donald Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion to build a wall along the U.s.-mexico border entered its 22nd day on Saturday, making it the longest shuttering of federal agencies in US history, with no end in sight.

The closure broke a decades-old record set by a 19951996 shutdown under former President Bill Clinton that lasted 21 days. Trump said on Friday he would not declare a national emergency “right now” to end a standoff over border security that has idled about a quarter of the U.S. government. He spoke after lawmakers had adjourned for the weekend, precluding any possible action until next week. In a tweet on Saturday, Trump took aim again at the Democrats. “Democrats should come back to Washington and work to end the Shutdown, while at the same time ending the horrible humanitarian crisis at our Southern Border. I am in the White House waiting for you!” he tweeted.

Trump also urged his 57.2 million twitter followers to contact Democratic lawmakers and “Tell them to get it done!”

Democrats in Congress, who call a wall an ineffective, outdated answer to a complex problem, have passed several bills to reopen the government without funding for Trump’s barrier.

But the legislation has been ignored by the Republicancontrolled Senate.

Trump originally pledged Mexico would pay for the wall, which he says is needed to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs. But Mexico has refused. U.S. government departments including the Treasury, Energy, Commerce and State departments, shut down when funding lapsed on 22 December.