Lawmakers have until February 15th to negotiate on President Donald Trump's wall at the U.S. Mexico border before he forces another shutdown.
Both Republicans and Democrats are adamant about preventing another government shutdown, even if that means defying the president. Republicans held a meeting on Tuesday about border security negotiations with no "clear signal from President Trump on what he would accept," a report from The Washington Post said.
Lawmakers are seeking bipartisan support to end negotiations. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who was publically quiet during the shutdown, said that he would do "whatever it takes," to keep the government open and running fully.
“I’m for whatever works, which means avoiding a shutdown and avoiding the president feeling he should declare a national emergency," he told The Post.
“Exactly how to do that, as you all know, has been quite challenging. … I’m for it narrow or broader. I’m for whatever works that prevent the level of dysfunction we’ve seen on full display here the last month," McConnell added.
“I don’t like shutdowns. I don’t think they work for anybody, and I hope they will be avoided. I’m open to anything we could agree on, on a bipartisan basis," McConnell said.
Republican lawmakers are supposed to have a meeting on Thursday for negotiation talks with Trump, however some wish that Trump would stay out of it.
“When he mixes in, it’s a formula for failure. I’d ask President Trump, ‘Let Congress deal with it on its own,’" Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said.
If Trump calls another shutdown it could have a serious impact and lead to a "financial crisis."
"Once the money is gone, Treasury would be unable to pay all its bills on time, which could lead to a financial crisis and a default on the government’s obligations. This could cause a spike in interest rates, a surge in unemployment, and a stock market crash," the report said.
Read the full report here.