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 US House challenges Trump on shutdown
US House challenges Trump on shutdown

US House challenges Trump on shutdown

The Democrat-controlled US House of Representatives has voted to end a partial government shutdown - but the move looks certain to be vetoed by President Donald Trump.

Mr Trump has said he will reject any measure that does not provide funding for his proposed US-Mexico border wall.

New House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has branded the wall "an immorality".

The measures also require the approval of the Republican-run Senate - but senators have already ruled this out.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said Republicans there would not back measures that Mr Trump did not support and called the Democrats' move a "total nonstarter" and a "political sideshow".

The legislation passed by the House of Representatives would fund homeland security operations until 8 February and fund several other agencies until September.

How has the shutdown come about?

The partial US government shutdown began when Congress and Mr Trump failed to reach an agreement over a budget bill in December.

Mr Trump's Republicans had passed an initial funding bill including $5bn (£4bn) for the wall, when they still had a majority in the House, but they could not get the necessary 60 votes in the 100-seat Senate.

A Thai tourist snaps the consequences of the partial shutdown

Democrats won the majority of the House in the November mid-term elections, and the new representatives were sworn in on Thursday.

"We're asking the president to open up government," Ms Pelosi told the Today show before the first session of the new House. "We have given the Republicans a chance to take yes for an answer."

The president is due to resume budget talks with top Democrats and Republicans on Friday.

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