Washington Gets Stuck in a Budget Tangle That Could Stretch into the New Year
Mick Mulvaney, the White House’s budget director, gave the world a teaser on Sunday, saying Washington’s partial shutdown might stretch past January 28 and bleed into the next Congress. He told Fox News Sunday that the funding fight over President Donald Trump’s border wall is keeping the city of politicians in a full‑stop.
The Millennial Shuffle of a Partial Shutdown
- It’s the third of its kind this year.
- Even though Trump’s party still holds both Houses, the flip will happen on the 3rd of January when the Democrats take the House throne.
- Congress sat down for a weekend break before the Christmas rush, leaving the shuffle at a standstill.
Why Trump Isn’t Backing Off the Wall
When the holiday vibes hit, Trump canceled a vacation in Florida to keep pushing his $5 billion win for a border wall—a promise that came from his campaign hype and his drive to curb illegal immigration. The shock? Democrats are on the throne of “stop, no!” and the federal funds for dozens of agencies have flickered out.
Mulvaney’s Take: A Town in Turmoil
“This is what Washington looks like when you have a president who refuses to go along to get along,” he told Fox. Richard Auditor (the guy actually named “Mick Mulvaney”) emphasizes that a settlement feels like a mile away.
What’s Next? The “New Congress” Drama
In a nutshell: if the new Congress takes over, it might take resources away from the current shutdown groan and keep the budget showdown alive.
