Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) says that President Trump could make a decision about how — or if — to avert a partial government shutdown…
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) says that President Trump could make a decision about how — or if — to avert a partial government shutdown as soon as later Monday.
The Appropriations Committee chairman, after meeting with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), said they had talks about “how to resolve our dilemma,” referring to the Friday deadline to get a deal on funding for roughly 25 percent of the government.
Shelby said he had not spoken with Trump, but that he had been told the president could make a decision as soon as Monday evening.
“We don’t know that. I think there’s a window…. He might be amenable to doing nothing, let it tick away,” Shelby said, asked if McConnell had told him what the president would be willing to accept on funding for the government.
Shelby added in a separate talk with reporters that the decision could be between “whether to work on some things and get a resolution this week or do a [continuing resolution] into February,” before adding there could be “other options” and there is “a lot of stuff floating around.”
“There are ongoing negotiations. Not just on the wall but other things,” Shelby added.
Congress has a matter of days to get a deal on funding for part of the government, including the Department of Homeland Security.
