Shutdown set to extend into new year after Congress punts on budget, border talks

By Felicia Sonmez and
Christopher Ingraham December 27 at 3:29 PM

Breaking: Congress Thursday effectively gave up on trying to reopen a quarter of the federal government until after the new year, as negotiations stalled out among Republican and Democratic leaders.

House members were told they would not be expected back for votes this week, and the Senate was expected to follow suit, according to Democratic and Republican aides. That would hand the job of reopening the federal government to Democrats when they take control of the House in January.

Congress was expected to convene briefly Thursday afternoon, on day six of the shutdown, but then close for legislative business until new lawmakers are sworn in Jan. 3.

President Trump did not appear in public Thursday and leadership offices were shuttered on Capitol Hill amid the standoff on the president’s demand for billions of dollars to fund a border wall that Democrats oppose.

-snip-