08/25/2017

Trump Threatens Shutdown over Border Wall Funding

He's leveled criticism against “obstructionist” Democrats, Republicans not pushing his agenda

With a difficult legislative agenda on deck when Congress returns from its August recess, President Donald Trump this week called for a government shutdown if Congress does not approve funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Trump has been critical of “obstructionist” Democrats, but also of Republican lawmakers who he feels are not pushing his legislative priorities effectively. In recent days, Trump has targeted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) for turning the debt ceiling issue into a “mess,” and McConnell and others for failing to pass a Republican healthcare reform bill before leaving for recess.

“If we have to close down our government, we’re building that wall,” Trump told supporters at a rally in Phoenix this week. “One way or the other, we’re going to get that wall.”

The border wall is a non-starter for congressional Democrats who have enough votes in the Senate to filibuster any spending bill.

“If the president pursues this path, against the wishes of both Republicans and Democrats, as well as the majority of the American people, he will be heading toward a government shutdown which nobody will like and which won’t accomplish anything,” said Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY).

Ryan said the border wall should eventually be funded but he is unlikely to force the issue in the spending bill Congress must pass to keep the government open after Sept. 30. McConnell also said this week he sees “zero chance” that Congress will not lift the debt ceiling, which needs to be raised between late September and early October to avoid default.

McConnell issued a statement this week saying that Republicans are dedicated to working together on their shared legislative agenda.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us, and we are committed to advancing our shared agenda together, and anyone who suggests otherwise is clearly not part of the conversation,” McConnell said.

This article was provided to OSAE by The Power of A and ASAE's Inroads.