After a tense week of negotiation and arguing, a second shutdown was avoided in lieu of President Trump’s national emergency.
Monday, Feb. 11: four days until shutdown
Both President Trump and Beto O’Rourke speak at the border this week. This marks Trump’s first rally of 2019. (119 hours until shutdown)
On Monday night, lawmakers on Capitol Hill announce that they have reached an agreement “on principle” to fund the government and avoid another shutdown. The proposed deal provides $1.375 billion for fencing and other measures to create a 55-mile barrier between Mexico and the United States. However, the deal does not involve the funding of a 200-mile border wall along the southern border that the president has been demanding. The White House has yet to comment on the agreement reached by Congressional leaders. (96 hours)
Tuesday, Feb. 12: three days until shutdown
When asked before a cabinet meeting, Trump comments on the proposed bill, stating, “I can’t say I’m happy” with the current agreement. He plans to study the bill more before determining if he wants to sign it. (87 hours)
Wednesday, Feb. 13: two days until shutdown
As lawmakers work to try to come up with a tangible deal, Trump says, “We haven’t gotten it yet. We’ll be getting it and we’ll be looking for land mines” in the bill. The theoretical deal that lawmakers had reached the night before is seen by the White House as a way to avoid another government shutdown. (60 hours)
Late Wednesday night, Congressional leaders complete the agreement they had proposed on Monday, with the $1.375 billion for the border fence. (49 hours)
Thursday, Feb. 14: one day until shutdown
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announces that President Trump will sign the proposed funding bill that allots $1.375 billion to border wall funding. However, he also says that the president will simultaneously declare a national emergency over the “emergency at the southern border.” (32 hours)
Not long after that announcement, the White House confirms that the president intends to declare a national emergency. (32 hours)
The Senate passes the border-security bill 83-16. The bill is sent to the House. (31 hours)
The House of Representatives approves the Senate’s bill 300-128, sending the bill to the president’s desk where he is expected to sign it. (31 hours)
Friday, Feb. 15: proposed day of shutdown
President Trump signs the funding bill into law, avoiding a second government shutdown for the year. At the same time, he declares a national emergency to allocate $8 billion to the construction of a wall along the southern border. Following immediate legal challenges, the president announces, “We will have a national emergency, and we will then be sued,” but he assures listeners that, “we’ll end up at the Supreme Court, and hopefully we’ll get a fair shake.” He also claims that the declaration was simply to get the wall built “faster.” The funds will be re-appropriated from the Departments of the Treasury and Defense. (13 hrs)
After signing the funding bill and the declaration of a national emergency, the president departs for his resort at Mar-a-Lago.
