The United States government looks set to remain partially shut down well into the new year as neither house of Congress plans any action for the remainder of 2018.
Midnight Friday marks one week since the partial government shutdown that has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay.
President Donald Trump is asking Congress to approve billions of dollars to build a wall along the US-Mexico border, but Democratic lawmakers support a modest increase in overall border security funding, and staunchly oppose funding a wall.
The Senate and the House of Representatives held meetings on Thursday, but without talking about any solution to the impasse. Both will meet in formal sessions on Monday, December 31, but without undertaking anything concrete.
Once sworn in next week, the new House Democratic majority will be able to pass any spending bill it sees fit. It remains to be seen how Senate Republicans will react to a House bill that lacks funding for the border wall.
