Trump administration officials promised to ensure the partial government shutdown “is painless as possible,” and will keep open essential services as well as parks, mail delivery, and the Smithsonian museums, they said Saturday.
“We want minimal disruption for the American people as we work with Congress to get border security passed,” a senior administration official said, taking a jab at the Obama administration, which the official said made partial closures “as painful as possible.”
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About a quarter of government funding lapsed at midnight because of an impasse over border wall funding.
The official listed services that will remain open for the nine or so agencies impacted by the lapse in government funding, including the Justice Department and Housing and Urban Development.
“We are trying to manage this partial shutdown with as minimum disruption to the American people … to be able to get an agreement that accomplishes the border security priorities of this administration,” the official said.
President Trump wants up to $5 billion to construct a physical barrier along the southern border. Democrats insist on no funding for anything equating to a barrier or a wall. They propose providing $1.3 billion for border security that excludes a wall or barrier.
Officials told reporters Saturday that President Trump “is not insisting on this being some kind of concrete barrier,” and “expressed an openness to continue funding,” steel slat barriers about 30 feet high, that are see-through.
But a final deal must allow spending on a physical barrier, officials said.
Democrats have resisted agreeing to any money for a barrier that can be called a wall.
Trump met with Republican senators and House lawmakers Saturday afternoon while background talks continue between Democratic Congressional leaders and the administration.
The president, an official said, “has all sorts of conversations and meetings and that doesn’t change day to day.”
The two sides are stuck on how the border security funding can be used.
“It’s important for [Democrats] to acknowledge that border security, physical barriers, need to be part of this package,” the officials said.
The House and Senate are holding rare Saturday sessions but without any debate or votes on spending proposals as they await a deal.
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., repeated the Democratic position in a Senate floor speech, warning Trump they will never give in and allow money to be spent on a wall, which they believe is “ineffective” and “wrong.”
