US-Mexico USMCA Talks Advance as Auto Rules Remain Major Sticking Point 
Trump Orders Warning Signs Outside Smithsonian Museum Over ‘Anti-American’ Exhibits 
UN Rights Chief Volker Turk Faces Opposition Over Second Term Bid 
Russia Says It Hit Ukrainian Ports, Cargo Ships in Odesa and Chornomorsk 
Global Leaders Push Back as Trump Imposes New Forced Labor Tariffs 
Trump Threatens Iran With 'Major Military Punishment' as Red Sea Attacks Push Oil Above $100 
Canada Vows Trade Fight as Trump Imposes 50% Tariffs 
Amish Shah Wins Arizona Democratic Primary in Key U.S. House Race 
Russian Missile Strike on Kyiv Region Kills 10, Sparks Probe Into Defense Industry Event 
US Military Completes 13th Straight Night of Iran Strikes as Trump Warns of Further Action 
Trump Orders Section 301 Probe Into EU Tech Fines, Signals New Tariffs 
UN Reappoints Volker Turk as Human Rights Chief Despite U.S., Russia, Israel Opposition 
EEOC Drops Penn Subpoena in Antisemitism Probe, Investigation Continues 
ASEAN Forum Puts Middle East Conflict, South China Sea Tensions in Spotlight 
Arizona Primaries Set High-Stakes Governor and House Battles Ahead of Midterm Elections 
Appeals Court Rejects Trump Bid to Reinstate $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee 
Trump to Deliver ‘Unifying Yet Vicious’ Speech at White House Correspondents’ Dinner Amid Heightened Security 
After a 35-day shutdown, the government has temporarily reopened but what happens after the Feb. 15 deadline is still quite uncertain. However, there are reports that United States President Donald Trump will most likely agree and sign a compromise deal even though it has a much less border wall funding.
Building a wall that would completely close the entire U.S.-Mexico border is one of the biggest campaign promises Trump made before getting elected. To start its construction, he has been demanding a $5.7 billion funding that has since been thwarted by Democratic lawmakers in Congress. The political stand-off led to the longest government shutdown in America's history.
A partial government shutdown was in effect last Dec. 22 and lasted for the next 35 days when Trump’s demand of a $5.7 billion funding for the border wall was not met. Unfortunately, it affected around 380,000 furloughed federal employees and about 420,000 more who were forced to work without getting paid at the peak of the holiday season.
It was recently reported that bipartisan negotiators have reached an agreement and drafted a compromise bill that includes a $1.375 billion allocation for Trump’s border wall. Unsurprisingly, Trump said he is “extremely unhappy” about it and commented he will be “adding things to it.” He promised that the “beautiful, big, strong wall” will happen but he also reportedly hinted that, for now, he does not want another government shutdown.
As the Feb. 15 deadline looms, some Republican lawmakers are urging Trump to sign the current deal. But they also welcome the possibility that the President will use other means to make the border wall happen.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said on Tuesday, “I have recommended that if it becomes what we think it is, I do recommend he sign it. I think he's got a pretty good deal here." Meanwhile, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) also expects the President to sign the said deal, thus, avoiding another government shutdown by the end of the week.
