White House says Trump undecided on deal to avert another shutdown

Source: Reuters



FEBRUARY 12, 2019 / 8:17 AM / UPDATED 11 MINUTES AGO

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump has not yet decided whether to back a deal hammered out by congressional negotiators to avert another partial government shutdown, the White House said on Tuesday, putting the future of the agreement that contains funds for U.S.-Mexican border security but not his promised wall in doubt.

Democratic and Republican negotiators reached the tentative deal on Monday night on border security provisions and money to keep several government agencies including the Department of Homeland Security funded through Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year. Temporary funding for about a quarter of the government is due to expire on Friday.

“I am cautiously optimistic that we will get this through,” Democratic Representative Nita Lowey, who chairs the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, told CNN. “We cannot shut the government down.”

Asked if the Republican president had signaled support for the bipartisan deal, Lowey did not answer directly, but said it had the backing of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats, who control the chamber.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-shutdown/white-house-says-trump-undecided-on-deal-to-avert-another-shutdown-idUSKCN1Q11KU?il=0