Mulvaney: Shutdown could stretch into 2019

Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney predicted Sunday that the government shutdown that began midnight Friday could extend into the new year, when Democrats officially retake control of the House of Representatives.

“I don’t think things are going to move very quickly here for the next couple of days,” Mulvaney told journalist Chris Wallace during an interview on “Fox News Sunday.”

Story Continued Below

Mulvaney, who also serves as President Donald Trump’s White House budget chief, said the internal politics of the House Democratic Caucus were complicating an agreement on government funding.

He alleged that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was hesitant to strike a deal on Trump’s border wall, fearing backlash from more liberal lawmakers in her bid to become speaker of the chamber.

“I think it’s a really good question here as to whether or not this deal can be cut before the new Congress comes in. I think there’s an implication here for Nancy Pelosi’s election for the speakership,” Mulvaney said.

“I think she’s now in that unfortunate position of being beholden to her left wing to where she cannot be seen as agreeing with the president on anything until after she’s speaker,” he continued. “If that’s the case, again, I think there’s a chance we go into the next Congress.”

Mulvaney added: “I certainly think the speaker’s dynamic is in play here.”

Senate Republicans on Saturday adjourned for the holidays, with plans to reconvene on Dec. 27 to continue deliberations. Mulvaney said paychecks to federal workers affected by the lapse in government funding are not set to be delivered until Dec. 28.

“Nobody is working without getting paid,” he said, cautioning: “The next pay period that is impacted is Jan 11. It’s very possible that this shutdown will go beyond the 28th and into the new Congress.”