How did it come about?
U.S. President Donald Trump and Congressional Democrats have not reached an agreement on his demand for $5.7 billion for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Democrats were willing to back a $1.6 billion package for border security provided it did not include a wall. Mr. Trump has said he will veto any bills from Congress authorising budgetary extensions for various federal government departments that do not also provide for wall construction. Funding authorisation for parts of the federal government expired last Friday at midnight.
The House had passed a bill last Thursday night that included funding for the government until February 8 and an allocation of $5.7 billion for the wall. However, on Friday, the bill did not make it through a Senate vote as it required 60 votes, or the support of some Democrats who have 49 of 100 Senate seats. Negotiations through last weekend failed to produce a resolution.
What is the extent of the shutdown?
The shutdown has impacted several key departments, including Homeland Security, the Internal Revenue Service, the Interior and State Departments. Homeland Security has said border and customs agents will continue to work and the State Department has said it will continue to process passport applications. Some 380,000 employees will be furloughed and others, some 420,000 federal employees, will work without pay during the shutdown, according to a fact sheet released by Democrats of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
What are the stakes?
Mr. Trump has consistently characterised the Democrats as being weak on security and made a campaign promise to build a wall. A few weeks ago, he told the likely future Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that he would be “proud” to shut the government down over the wall.
After showing some flexibility last week, Mr. Trump has dug his heels in, saying he will get his wall funded, cancelling Christmas at his Mar-a-Lago resort to stay in Washington to negotiate.
A resurgent Democratic party, which will take control of the House of Representatives soon, is keen to flex its muscle and stand up to the President on key issues. It has pinned the shutdown on the President, calling it a “Trump shutdown”.
When will it end?
It’s hard to say and depends on who blinks first. Earlier this week, Mr. Trump had said that he would pay for the wall from monies saved by the shutdown. The logic of this proposition is unclear as there will be no cost savings with the Senate having approved back pay for all furloughed employees and those working without pay. However, this could be a way for the President to save face with his base while reaching a settlement with Democrats, who have thus far stuck to their position.
With the Mueller probe closing in on his former associates, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis resigning, and the White House in turmoil with senior staffers leaving, Mr. Trump is under increasing pressure.
It looks like the impasse could carry over into 2019.
