Trump Says Will Not Approve Continuing Resolution Due To Lack Of Border Funding - Ryan

US President Donald Trump said he will not sign the continuing resolution passed by the Senate that would keep the government open until February 8 at current levels because it did not contain new funding for a border wall, House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th December, 2018) US President Donald Trump said he will not sign the continuing resolution passed by the Senate that would keep the government open until February 8 at current levels because it did not contain new funding for a border wall, House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters on Thursday.

"The President informed us that he will not sign the bill that came over from the Senate last evening because of his legitimate concern for border security," Ryan said after meeting with Trump at the White House. "So what we're going to do is go back to the House and work with our members. We want to keep the government open but we also want to see an agreement that protects the border.

"

The White House and Congress have until midnight on Friday to reach a deal on funding for nine agencies of the Federal government, including the Department of Homeland Security, or there will be a partial government shutdown.

Congress has already passed approximately 75 percent of the funding needed for fiscal year 2019, which ends in September.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced the continuing resolution, which passed the Senate unanimously on Wednesday night, and the House planned to pass the same measure, until Trump told Republican leaders he would not sign it.