The partial government shutdown extended to its fourth day on Tuesday as President Donald Trump continues his call for lawmakers to approve funding for a border wall, The Hill reported Tuesday.
“I can’t tell you when the government is going to be open,†he told reporters Tuesday.
“I can tell you, it’s not going to be open until we have a wall, a fence, whatever they’d like to call it,†he added.
Reuters reported that funding for the departments of Justice, Agriculture and Homeland Security and other federal programs expired early Saturday and a top aide of Trump said the partial shutdown could run through Jan. 3.
Trump on Monday mentioned a contract to build another section of a border wall in Texas.
“I am in the Oval Office & just gave out a 115 mile long contract for another large section of the wall in Texas,†he said in a tweet.
Some lawmakers associated the shutdown with Congress’ move to hand over more authorities to the executive branch, The New York Times reported Monday.
“I think that Speaker [Paul] Ryan and House Republicans totally ducked their responsibilities by not allowing an up-and-down vote,†said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).
“They’ve contracted out their authority to the president, as opposed to acting like a separate body,†he added.
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