The Senate passed a last-minute stopgap spending bill late Wednesday in an effort to avert a possible government shutdown Friday. The measure would keep the government open until February and does not include funding for Trump’s $5 billion border wall. Last week, Trump declared he would be “proud” to shut down the government over border wall funding during a contentious public meeting with Democratic leaders. The measure will now have to pass through the House before arriving at President Trump’s desk. It’s unclear whether he will sign it. On Wednesday, Trump appeared to back off the border wall funding provision, tweeting, “Mexico is paying (indirectly) for the Wall through the new USMCA, the replacement for NAFTA! Far more money coming to the U.S. Because of the tremendous dangers at the Border, including large scale criminal and drug inflow, the United States Military will build the Wall!”
Senates Passes Stopgap Spending Measure in Hopes of Averting Shutdown
HeadlineDec 20, 2018