The conflict between President Trump and Congress escalated a day after he threatened to shut down the federal government over funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall as well as targeted opponents in Congress, aggravating tensions as a difficult legislative agenda looms.
Trump is now at odds not only with Democrats, who cemented their objections to funding the wall Wednesday, but also with Republicans, who must reconcile his brash rhetoric with the governing realities of Congress.
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) played down the prospect of a shutdown, telling reporters Wednesday that even if the wall debate remains unresolved, Congress probably would pass a stopgap extension of funding to prevent a lapse when the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. …
The shutdown threat is a response to the leverage granted to the minority party in the Senate. Although Republicans control the House, the Senate and the White House, Democrats have enough votes in the Senate to filibuster any spending bill, giving them the power to make demands regarding what is and isn’t included in a funding package. …
Public opinion runs against the border wall, although most Republicans support it. …
Spending legislation that passed into law earlier this year did not include wall funding after Democrats refused to accept it. That impasse increased pressure on Republicans to deliver wall funding in future spending battles.
