The White House on Tuesday appeared to inch away from forcing a partial government shutdown over funding for a southern border wall, with Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying there are "other ways" to secure the $5 billion in funding that President Donald Trump wants. It was the first sign of a potential White House counter offer as the clock ticks down toward Friday's deadline to fund the government. The fight over Trump's border wall has brought Congress to a familiar standoff just days before Christmas. It wasn't always like this, with Congress and the White House at a crisis over government funding. The president is insisting on $5 billion for the wall, but he does not have the votes from the Republican-led Congress to support it.

Source: The Telegraph December 18, 2018 16:41 UTC