In the US, a partial standstill of government business threatens shortly before Christmas. The reason: US President Donald Trump continues to insist that the regular budget for the government should provide money for a border wall. Otherwise he does not want to sign such a budget law. Now, Republicans in the House of Representatives, who are still in the majority there, have agreed that the budget should include $ 5.7 billion for the Wall.
The vote was almost in accordance with the party membership in the House of Representatives: 217 members voted for it, 185 against. However, the budget still has to be accepted by the Senate – and will most likely not get away with it. In the Senate, the Trump project would also depend on votes of the Democrats.
The White House announced that Trump would not be leaving for Florida for the Christmas holiday, in case of a „shutdown“. If there is no agreement by Saturday night, ie until Saturday morning German time, parts of the US government would run out of money. Employees would then be sent on forced leave, offices and authorities closed.
On Wednesday evening, the US Senate adopted by a large majority a bill that would guarantee the continuation of government business until the beginning of February 2019. Money for the construction of the wall is not provided for therein. Because Trump refuses to sign off the budget without money for the wall, the House of Representatives was forced to renegotiate it. (You can read more about Trump’s behavior in the budget dispute here.)
Until next month, Trump’s Republicans still have a majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives. In the New Year, the Democrats then take over the majority in the House of Representatives as a result of the Midterms.
