America is facing a government shutdown as divisions deepen over President Donald Trump’s demands for $5 billion for a wall along the border with Mexico to deter migrants.
Hundreds of thousands of government employees will be told to stay at home or work without pay over the holiday season unless a deal can be struck by midnight on Friday.
Republican and Democrat politicians are deadlocked over Mr Trump’s insistence that $5 billion (£3.9 billion) is included in the 2019 budget to build the wall on America’s southern border.
The President said last week that he would be “proud” to shut down the government if it meant Congress would help fulfil his controversial 2016 election campaign promise to crackdown on illegal immigration.
Last night, he launched a new attack on opposition Democrats, tweeting: “Anytime you hear a Democrat saying that you can have good Border Security without a Wall, write them off as just another politician following the party line.”
Democrats, who take back the reins of the House of Representatives in the new year, are united in their opposition to the extra wall funding.
Leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer have told Mr Trump that they will only agree to keep funding at its current level of $1.3 million for improved fencing.
Mr Schumer said: “No threat or temper tantrum will get the President his wall.”
Mr Trump claimed during the 2016 campaign that Mexico would pay for the wall, but it has refused. Now he has been accused of playing brinkmanship with livelihoods to fund his plan with US taxpayers’ money.
The border wall represents a small part of the $450 billion budget package that must be agreed by December 21 for government bills to be paid.
The dispute could affect nine of 15 Cabinet-level departments. David Cox, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said: “Our members are asking how they are supposed to pay for rent, food, and gas if they are required to work without a pay cheque. The holiday season makes these inquiries especially heart-wrenching.”
