News ID: 237828
Published: 0517 GMT January 24, 2019

Democrats push technology as alternative to Trump wall in shutdown impasse

Democrats push technology as alternative to Trump wall in shutdown impasse

Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives floated the idea on Wednesday of ending a partial US government shutdown by giving President Donald Trump most or all of the money he seeks for security along the Mexican border but for items other than the wall he wants.


Other leaders in the Democratic-controlled House said they were drafting a funding offer they will likely make to Trump in a letter. Representative James Clyburn, the No. 3 House Democrat, said Democrats could fulfill Trump’s request for $5.7 billion for border security with technological tools such as drones, X-rays and sensors, as well as more border patrol agents.



Republican Representative Tom Cole, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, told reporters the Democratic proposal could help.


But Pelosi told Trump on Wednesday the House would not consider a measure authorizing his address until the shutdown ends. “Again, I look forward to welcoming you to the House on a mutually agreeable date for this address when the government has been opened,” Pelosi said to Trump in a letter.

In a sign Trump may be bracing for a long shutdown, a senior administration official said agencies without funding had been asked to give the White House a list of programs that could be hurt “within the coming weeks” if the funding lapse continues.






Barclays economists said on Wednesday they reduced their outlook on US economic growth in the first quarter to an annualized rate of 2.5 percent from an earlier projection of 3 percent as a result of the shutdown.

Furloughed federal workers are struggling to make ends meet during the longest government shutdown in US history. Many have turned to unemployment assistance, food banks, and other support, or have sought new jobs.


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