President Trump has announced a deal to temporarily reopen the government after the 35-day shutdown.
The deal will reopen the government until February 15, but Trump suggested that if no funding for a border wall is agreed upon, he will either shut the government down again or take further action.
“We really have no choice but to build a powerful wall or a steel barrier,” Trump said. “If we don’t get a fair deal from Congress, the government will either shut down again on Feb. 15, or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the Constitution of the United States to address this emergency.”
The President has continued to ask Congress for $5.7 billion for the wall, but Republicans and Democrats remain far apart on the issue.
Following the announcement of the deal, Mississippi’s Senators issued statements in support of the decision.
“A number of Democrats in the House and Senate have stated publicly and privately they would negotiate in good faith if the President would reopen the government,” Senator Roger Wicker said. “By making this agreement with the President, congressional Democrats will have an opportunity over the next three weeks to make good on their assurances. Bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate have voted in the past to fund border security structures. In the meantime, it is a relief to us all that our government will be functioning, and our dedicated federal employees will receive their compensation.”
“I respect the President’s decision to reopen closed portions of the federal government and end the hardship the shutdown has caused many people in Mississippi and around the country,” Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith said. “We’ll have three weeks to work together to complete the 2019 appropriations process with funding for stronger border security and other national priorities. This will require Democrats to negotiate in good faith with President Trump and Republicans for the common good of our citizens.”
The 35-day shutdown was the longest in the country’s history.
