Updated Dec 22, 2018 - Politics & Policy

Government shutdown to continue through Christmas

Marisa Fernandez

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ken.) said Saturday that the Senate will reconvene Dec. 27th, and that no further votes on a short-spending bill will be held until Democrats reach an agreement with President Trump.

The big picture: The government will remain partially shut down at least until after Christmas. In a statement released Saturday, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders wrote: "Due to the shutdown, President Trump will remain in Washington, D.C. and the First Lady will return from Florida so they can spend Christmas together.”

The state of play: According to the White House, President Trump met for lunch with Republicans Sen. Mike Lee, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Richard Shelby, Rep. Mark Meadows, Rep. Jim Jordan, Rep. Matt Gaetz and Rep. Andy Biggs. A senior administration official told reporters during a briefing call that $5 billion in border wall funding is still the president's goal, and that the proposal Democrats put forward is "unacceptable."

Vice President Mike Pence also met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, but gave no indication to reporters that the talks had resulted in any progress.

Go deeper: Trump's Christmas shutdown spooks GOP

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Government shutdown to continue through Christmas

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