Blame game for shutdown begins
UNITED STATES: The federal government ceased all nonessential functions yesterday as President Donald Trump failed to reach a deal with Senate Democrats to keep the government open exactly one year into his presidency.
The primary cause: An impasse over Trump’s border and immigration policies, a key campaign promise that became entangled with a measure to renew the government’s spending authority.
As the deadline came without a deal, the White House issued a blustery statement blasting Senate Democrats as ‘‘obstructionist losers’’ and singling out Trump nemesis Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader.
‘‘Senate Democrats own the Schumer Shutdown,’’ said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. ‘‘We will not negotiate the status of unlawful immigrants while Democrats hold our lawful citizens hostage over their reckless demands.’’
Vice President Mike Pence also expressed his displeasure and blamed Democrats for the shutdown.
‘‘Rather than solve problems, Democratic leadership preferred a shutdown that has dangerous consequences for our national defence,’’ said Pence in a statement, adding: ‘‘Their action tonight - or lack thereof - is unconscionable.’’
The White House was preparing for at least a weekendlong partial government shutdown on Saturday as it became increasingly clear that the Senate could not reach the 60-vote threshold to prevent a Democratic filibuster and approve a House funding measure.
‘‘Not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border,’’ Trump said on Twitter, just before a Senate procedural vote that would fall 10 votes short.
Trump cancelled a scheduled trip to his Palm Beach resort as he met the top Senate Democrat to try to forge a deal to keep the government open past a midnight deadline.
‘‘He’s not leaving until this is finished,’’ said Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s budget director.
Mulvaney said the closures would inflict less pain on citizens who use government services than the last time Congress failed to pass a spending bill in time. The 2013 shutdown closed down many government functions for 16 days until House Republicans relented on their demands that a spending bill include a repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
Mandatory spending like Social Security and disaster relief will continue, as they have in past shutdowns. Military troops, police and other essential workers would also continue, but their pay could be held up if the shutdown lasts more than a week. Even federal workers told not to report to work would likely be paid eventually Congress has historically voted to pay them retroactively.
Mulvaney said he encouraged agencies to transfer funds and use other appropriations in order to remain open. Trump invited Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to the Oval Office on Saturday for negotiations. Senate Democrats sought provisions to allow immigrants who were brought to the United States as children to remain in the country.
Republicans control the Senate, but fall nine votes short of the 60 they need to avoid a Democratic filibuster.
The Office of Management and Budget is responsible for coordinating and enforcing a shutdown, which will send all nonessential federal workers home unless they’re funded outside the annual appropriations process.
The White House itself, as a constitutional office, would remain open for business.