The president maintained that Democrats needed to include $5 billion dollars for a border wall in any proposed bills to keep government open; however, Democrats refused, denouncing a barrier at the Southern border as wasteful and ineffective. Neither side relented, thus prompting the government shutdown which commenced on the evening of December 21, 2018.
With the shutdown gradually approaching its one-month milestone, there is still no apparent resolution in sight. Both sides remain committed to their positions. President Trump is not budging on garnering the funding for his promised border wall. Likewise, Democrats are still fighting tooth-and-nail to halt the funding of a barrier.
Since Democrats assumed their majority in the House of Representatives, they have attempted to pass legislation to re-open government. However, none of their bills included funding to go towards a barrier at the Southern border. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has informed Democrats that the Senate will not consider legislation which fails to meet President Trump’s approval. In layman’s terms, this means that bills which lack funding for the border wall will face automatic dismissal from the Senate.
