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Government Shutdown Looms as Trump Demands $5 Billion for Border Wall

HeadlineDec 18, 2018

President Trump signaled Monday he won’t support a 1- or 2-week spending bill to avoid a government shutdown over the holidays, as the White House continues to demand at least $5 billion to expand the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Democrats have offered about a quarter of that amount. With Christmas approaching, more than 380,000 federal employees face the prospect of unpaid furloughs, while a further 420,000 so-called essential federal employees could be required to work without pay. David Cox, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said, “Congress and the President should not hold agency funding hostage to controversial policies unrelated to the budget. … Our members are asking how they are supposed to pay for rent, food, and gas if they are required to work without a paycheck. The holiday season makes these inquiries especially heart-wrenching.”  

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