Both sides in the fight over President Donald Trump's border wall with Mexico have given a little on the money. What they can't seem to agree on is what it should be spent on.
And until Trump and Democrats who oppose building a wall can figure that out, parts of the government will stay closed.
Christmas marked the fourth day of the partial government shutdown with no end in sight.
Most lawmakers fled the capital over the weekend to be with family. Trump remained at the White House after scrapping plans to spend Christmas at his Florida estate.
Asked for a shutdown update during an appearance at the White House on Monday, Trump said: "Nothing new. Nothing new on the shutdown. Nothing new, except we need border security."
A top White House official warns the shutdown could stretch into January. It affects about one-fourth of the federal government.
Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney says he's waiting to hear from Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer about a counteroffer the White House presented Schumer over the weekend.
Mulvaney would only say the offer was between Trump's $5.7 billion request and the $1.3 billion Democrats have offered.
Says Mulvaney: "We moved off of the five and we hope they move up from their 1.3."
Schumer's office says the parties remain "very far apart."
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I am in the Oval Office & just gave out a 115 mile long contract for another large section of the Wall in Texas. We are already building and renovating many miles of Wall, some complete. Democrats must end Shutdown and finish funding. Billions of Dollars, & lives, will be saved!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018
Virtually every Democrat we are dealing with today strongly supported a Border Wall or Fence. It was only when I made it an important part of my campaign, because people and drugs were pouring into our Country unchecked, that they turned against it. Desperately needed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018
