Trump Ends Shutdown and Gets What in Return?

President Donald Trump announced in the White House Rose Garden on Friday afternoon that he agreed to sign a three-week stopgap spending bill that will fund the federal government through February 15th.

President Trump conceded the $5.7 billion in funding for a border wall in order to end the longest federal government shutdown in history. In return, the spending bill will give a bipartisan congressional committee time to negotiate a homeland security appropriations bill that will address border security including funding for a barrier or wall.

If the committee fails to reach an agreement on funding for a wall, President Trump threatened another government shutdown or possibly declare a national emergency in order to divert military funding to the wall.

“We really have no choice but to build a powerful wall or steel barrier. If we don’t get a fair deal from Congress, the government will either shutdown on February 15 again, or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the Constitution of the United States to address this emergency,” Trump said.

The Senate was unable to pass a compromise bill that included funding for a border wall and extended DACA for three years. The Senate also failed to pass a Senate Democrat spending bill that did not include funding for a border wall.

So essentially, President Trump agreed to a deal that does not include what precipitated the partial government shutdown. For what? The promise that members of Congress will negotiate it.

This could not have been done weeks ago? Also, Democrats have indicated they will not accept any spending package that includes funding for a border wall. What is going to change in three weeks?

This is exactly why Republicans have not come out ahead after a government shutdown. They cave and get little to nothing in return. A compromise means give and take. This just seems like a surrender.