Trump Considers Government Shutdown

If President Trump and the U.S. Congress fail to create a spending deal by Friday, roughly 25 percent of federal operations will run out of money, causing a partial government shutdown. This shutdown will be fairly minor compared to previous shutdowns, but Americans trying to vacation over the holidays in the national parks might be disappointed to find them closed. Reuters reports that behind the showdown playing out in Washington is Trump’s demand for $5 billion to start building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump initially promised that Mexico would pay for the wall, but now he wants U.S. taxpayers to pay for it. Democrats and some Republicans oppose it, arguing an expensive wall can not stop illegal immigration.