Government shutdown: Lawmakers reach agreement 'in principle' to avoid shutdown as Friday deadline looms



WASHINGTON – Lawmakers negotiating to avoid another government shutdown reached an agreement "in principle" to keep federal agencies open after Friday, when current federal funding is set to expire.

The bipartisan group did not provide details of the agreement on Monday. However, congressional aides said it included $1.375 billion for a structure along the southern border – well below the $5.7 billion President Donald Trump has demanded for the wall that he made a central promise of his 2016 presidential campaign.

Speaking at a political rally in El Paso, Texas, shortly after the deal was announced, Trump spoke at length about border security and continued to argue for a wall.

He did not say whether he would sign the agreement to avert a shutdown if it reaches his desk.

"They said progress is being made," Trump said, referring to aides who briefed him before he began speaking in El Paso, where signs hanging from the rafters read: "Finish the wall."

"We probably have some good news. But who knows?" he said.

The emerging agreement was announced by a group of lawmakers, including Republican Sen. Richard Shelby and Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey, after a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill.

"We're talking about serious, serious, serious things, and we're hopefully making some progress," Shelby, R-Ala., told reporters earlier at the Capitol after the group met for a second time Monday. 

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