No Christmas Miracle Expected As US Govt Shutdown Looms

Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Dec, 2018 ) :A US government shutdown appeared more and more likely to become a reality Friday just before Christmas, with President Donald Trump threatening a "very long" Federal work stoppage unless Democrats agree to his border wall demands.

An air of chaos hung over Washington as a midnight deadline rapidly approached for lawmakers and the president to find a way to accomplish a very basic task: keep the government up and running.

But hopes were dwindling that a deal might be struck before dozens of US agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and State Department are forced to cease operations.

Thousands of federal employees could be furloughed right before the end-of-year holidays without a paycheck.

They include workers at the Departments of Justice, Agriculture and Transportation, as well as at several smaller agencies.

Official preparations for the partial shutdown were reportedly underway, but with many federal workers scheduled to be off Monday and Tuesday for the Christmas holiday, there was broad uncertainty about how and when plans would be carried out.

The sense of turmoil was compounded by a falling stock market, Trump's abrupt decision to disregard advisors and allies and pull out of Syria, and the shock resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, seen as a moderating force for an impulsive president.

Trump lit up Twitter early Friday with dire warnings of upcoming upheaval -- and a clear resolve not to give in.

"Shutdown today if Democrats do not vote for Border Security!" Trump fumed.

"The Democrats, whose votes we need in the Senate, will probably vote against Border Security and the Wall even though they know it is DESPERATELY NEEDED," he added.

"If the Dems vote no, there will be a shutdown that will last for a very long time. People don't want Open Borders and Crime!" Democrats savaged Trump for reversing course Thursday and rejecting a measure that had unanimously passed the Senate and was under consideration in the House.

It would have extended government funding until February 8, but contained no money for a wall on the US-Mexico border, a pet project Trump has fought for since he began campaigning for president in 2015.

With ultra-conservative lawmakers and media personalities effectively demanding that the president stick to his campaign promises, Trump doubled down on his demand for $5 billion inwall funding.

"Walls work, whether we like it or not," he said Thursday. "They work better than anything."