US Democrats have vowed to pass bills that would end a government shutdown, when they take control of the House when Congress reconvenes on Thursday. But the bills will not include funding for President Donald Trump’s Mexican border wall, the cause of the shutdown.
The impasse will therefore continue, as Republicans still control the Senate and say they will not pass the funding bills without Mr Trump’s approval. The partial shutdown has now lasted 13 days, affecting some 800,000 workers. Shutdowns occur when Congress fails to approve a budget for government operations, or the president refuses to sign it, by a certain deadline. Mr Trump’s Republicans had passed a budget bill including $5bn (£4bn) funding for the wall in December, when they still had a majority in the House but they could not get the necessary 60 votes in the 100-seat Senate. The House majority now passes to the Democrats following the November mid-term elections.
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