Key lawmakers plan to meet Monday afternoon in a late-stage bid to avert a government shutdown, trying to revive talks that derailed over the weekend amid a dispute on immigration enforcement rules. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway on Monday said Democrats’ demands were to blame for the renewed risk of a shutdown. The meeting Monday is an effort to broker a last-minute deal, though congressional aides and White House officials did not express optimism that an easy solution was within reach. During the last government shutdown, which began Dec. 22, 2018, and lasted 35 days, 800,000 federal employees went without pay. Moving money from one account to another could be challenged in court, but top White House officials have said they are prepared for legal challenges.

Source: Washington Post February 11, 2019 14:06 UTC