White House: This Shutdown Won’t Be Like Previous Shutdowns
The White House is preparing to close government offices if Congress doesn’t pass a new spending bill by the midnight deadline, but says the 2018 version of the government shutdown would inflict less pain on citizens who use government services than the last one.
“We want to make folks understand that it will look very different than it did in past years,” White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said Friday. “The Obama administration weaponized the shutdown in 2013.”
Mulvaney said he is encouraging agencies to transfer funds and use other appropriations in order to remain open.
One example: Mulvaney said national parks would remain open during a shutdown although the trash wouldn’t be picked up and park police wouldn’t get paid unless Congress passes retroactive legislation.
The Trump administration’s approach, if carried out, would be a reversal from the so-called “Washington Monument” strategy that administrations of both parties have used since shutdowns became more common during the Reagan administration.
By closing some of the most popular and visible government services, the administration can put pressure on Congress to compromise.
White House officials say they’re working on that compromise Friday, with President Trump personally making phone calls to Capitol Hill.
But Trump himself clearly sees political advantage in a shutdown for which he could blame Senate Democrats.
