A threatened <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-refuses-to-sign-us-government-shutdown-legislation-over-mexico-wall-funding-185571">shutdown </a>of the US government would see hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed and many more working without pay.

President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-pressures-democrats-warns-government-may-close-for-very-long-time-185701">Donald Trump </a>warned Friday that a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-government-shuts-down-at-midnight-as-house-adjourns-with-no-deal-185738">shutdown</a> could last a "very long time" unless Democrats in the Senate join Republicans and approve funding for the border wall with Mexico.

Unless a last-minute deal is reached the <a href="http://13.232.42.114/business-economy/wall-street-stocks-slump-over-us-government-shutdown-fears-185583">government will shut down</a> at midnight (0500 GMT Saturday).

According to Democrats in the House and Senate, a shutdown would impact about 800,000 of the 2.1 million federal employees in the United States.

Some 380,000 federal workers would be furloughed — put on unpaid leave — including 52,000 employees of the Internal Revenue Service.

Some 80 per cent of the employees of the National Park Service would also be sent home, along with 96 per cent of NASA workers and 86 per cent of the Commerce Department.

Another 420,000 workers considered essential personnel would work without pay including 41,000 federal law enforcement and correctional officers and others such as aviation and postal workers.

The departments impacted would include homeland security, transport, commerce, state, agriculture, interior, treasury and housing and urban development.

Others such as the Defense Department, Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services have already received funding and would be spared.

No visitor services would be provided at tourist attractions such as the nation's national parks, which are frequently visited over the Christmas holidays.

During the last shutdown, the Statue of Liberty was closed for two days before the state of New York decided to pony up the money necessary to keep it open.

The Smithsonian in Washington said that in the event of a shutdown, it had enough in reserve to keep its museums open through January 1.

There have been a number of government shutdowns in recent years including one which lasted three days under Trump in January.

An October 2013 shutdown lasted 16 days while one in 1995-96 lasted a record 21 days.

One person who would not be the victim of the shutdown is Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the target of Trump's frequent ire.

Mueller's team, which is investigating whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to get him elected, will continue working.

A threatened shutdown of the US government would see hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed and many more working without pay. President Donald Trump warned Friday that a shutdown could last a "very long time" unless Democrats in the Senate join Republicans and approve funding for the border wall with Mexico.

A threatened shutdown of the US government would see hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed and many more working without pay. President Donald Trump warned Friday that a shutdown could last a "very long time" unless Democrats in the Senate join Republicans and approve funding for the border wall with Mexico. Unless a last-minute deal is reached the government will shut down at midnight (0500 GMT Saturday). According to Democrats in the House and Senate, a shutdown would impact about 800,000 of the 2.1 million federal employees in the United States. Some 380,000 federal workers would be furloughed — put on unpaid leave — including 52,000 employees of the Internal Revenue Service. Some 80 per cent of the employees of the National Park Service would also be sent home, along with 96 per cent of NASA workers and 86 per cent of the Commerce Department. Another 420,000 workers considered essential personnel would work without pay including 41,000 federal law enforcement and correctional officers and others such as aviation and postal workers. The departments impacted would include homeland security, transport, commerce, state, agriculture, interior, treasury and housing and urban development. Others such as the Defense Department, Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services have already received funding and would be spared. No visitor services would be provided at tourist attractions such as the nation's national parks, which are frequently visited over the Christmas holidays. During the last shutdown, the Statue of Liberty was closed for two days before the state of New York decided to pony up the money necessary to keep it open. The Smithsonian in Washington said that in the event of a shutdown, it had enough in reserve to keep its museums open through January 1. There have been a number of government shutdowns in recent years including one which lasted three days under Trump in January. An October 2013 shutdown lasted 16 days while one in 1995-96 lasted a record 21 days. One person who would not be the victim of the shutdown is Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the target of Trump's frequent ire. Mueller's team, which is investigating whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to get him elected, will continue working.

US government shutdown would affect 800,000 federal employees

US Senate Democrats are considering legal action over President Donald Trump`s appointment of a new acting attorney general, congressional sources said on Friday, as some outside experts called the move unconstitutional.

Trump on Wednesday named Matthew Whitaker to replace former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was forced out after months of attacks by Trump for recusing himself from an ongoing probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

The move made Whitaker supervisor of the investigation, which has hung over Trump`s presidency. Whitaker has criticized the probe in the past as too wide-ranging, which has raised concerns among Democrats that Sessions` ouster and Whitaker`s appointment might be precursors to Trump moving to end it.

Senate Democrats were considering suing Trump, the sources said, on the grounds that, in naming Whitaker, the president ignored a statutory line of succession at the Justice Department and deprived senators of their constitutional "advice and consent" role on some presidential appointments.

"The only two paths to that office are regular succession, and advice (and) consent," said a source close to the Senate Judiciary Committee.&nbsp;

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal told Reuters late on Friday he was "considering action that might be brought against an interim appointment that violates the normal statutory line of succession and raises very serious constitutional questions."

He said he was speaking only for himself and he hoped Republicans might join as plaintiffs if a lawsuit goes forward.

The Appointments Clause of the US Constitution states that some senior government officials, known as "principal officers," must be confirmed by the Senate.

A spokesman for Senate Judiciary chairman Chuck Grassley said Trump had the authority to appoint Whitaker as acting attorney general temporarily, even though he had not been confirmed by the Senate.&nbsp;

Such appointments can be done for senior officials who have worked in the department for at least 90 days and can last for up to 210 days, spokesman George Hartmann said.

As the minority party in the Senate, Democrats might need some Republican support to have legal standing to sue Trump under the Appointments Clause, said Andrew Wright, who was a White House lawyer under former President Barack Obama.

The source close to the Senate Judiciary Committee said Democrats were unsure whether they would reach out to Republicans to join the lawsuit, but added it was "not likely."

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who earlier this year introduced legislation to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is conducting the probe, said Whitaker did not pose a threat to his work.&nbsp;

"Mueller will be allowed to do his job," Graham said in a Friday interview on Fox News Radio.

John Yoo, a former Justice Department lawyer in the George W. Bush administration, said "the Supreme Court made clear that the Attorney General is a principal officer," in a 1998 case.

"Therefore, Whitaker cannot serve as acting Attorney General ... Any other officer in the Justice Department who was appointed through advice and consent can serve, including the Deputy AG, the solicitor general, and the assistant AGs," said Yoo, now a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, a career Justice Department official already confirmed by the Senate, should have been named the new attorney general.

Restrictions on Trump

US intelligence agencies have said Russia interfered in the 2016 election in an attempt to tip it towards Trump and away from his Democratic opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Republican Senator Susan Collins said Mueller must be allowed to complete his investigation into whether Trump`s campaign colluded with Moscow. 
Trump has repeatedly said there was no collusion, and has slammed the probe as a "witch hunt." Russia has denied interfering.

"I am concerned about comments that Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has made regarding the Special Counsel and the parameters of his investigation," Collins said in a statement.

"We should bring to the Senate floor legislation that would put restrictions on the ability of President Donald Trump to fire the Special Counsel."

Speaking to reporters at the White House before he left on a trip to Paris, Trump defended his choice of Whitaker, saying the former US attorney for the southern district of Iowa had an excellent reputation and came highly recommended by former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who is now Trump`s ambassador to China.

Trump said on Friday he had not discussed the Mueller probe with Whitaker before appointing him.

"He`s a highly respected man, especially by law enforcement, and I think he`s going to do a great job," Trump said.

A spokeswoman for the Justice Department has said Whitaker would oversee all matters under its jurisdiction, including the Mueller investigation. Democrats have called on Whitaker to recuse himself.

US Senate Democrats are considering legal action over President Donald Trump`s appointment of a new acting attorney general, congressional sources said on Friday, as some outside experts called the move unconstitutional.

US Senate Democrats are considering legal action over President Donald Trump`s appointment of a new acting attorney general, congressional sources said on Friday, as some outside experts called the move unconstitutional. Trump on Wednesday named Matthew Whitaker to replace former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was forced out after months of attacks by Trump for recusing himself from an ongoing probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. The move made Whitaker supervisor of the investigation, which has hung over Trump`s presidency. Whitaker has criticized the probe in the past as too wide-ranging, which has raised concerns among Democrats that Sessions` ouster and Whitaker`s appointment might be precursors to Trump moving to end it. Senate Democrats were considering suing Trump, the sources said, on the grounds that, in naming Whitaker, the president ignored a statutory line of succession at the Justice Department and deprived senators of their constitutional "advice and consent" role on some presidential appointments. "The only two paths to that office are regular succession, and advice (and) consent," said a source close to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal told Reuters late on Friday he was "considering action that might be brought against an interim appointment that violates the normal statutory line of succession and raises very serious constitutional questions." He said he was speaking only for himself and he hoped Republicans might join as plaintiffs if a lawsuit goes forward. The Appointments Clause of the US Constitution states that some senior government officials, known as "principal officers," must be confirmed by the Senate. A spokesman for Senate Judiciary chairman Chuck Grassley said Trump had the authority to appoint Whitaker as acting attorney general temporarily, even though he had not been confirmed by the Senate. Such appointments can be done for senior officials who have worked in the department for at least 90 days and can last for up to 210 days, spokesman George Hartmann said. As the minority party in the Senate, Democrats might need some Republican support to have legal standing to sue Trump under the Appointments Clause, said Andrew Wright, who was a White House lawyer under former President Barack Obama. The source close to the Senate Judiciary Committee said Democrats were unsure whether they would reach out to Republicans to join the lawsuit, but added it was "not likely." Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who earlier this year introduced legislation to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is conducting the probe, said Whitaker did not pose a threat to his work. "Mueller will be allowed to do his job," Graham said in a Friday interview on Fox News Radio. John Yoo, a former Justice Department lawyer in the George W. Bush administration, said "the Supreme Court made clear that the Attorney General is a principal officer," in a 1998 case. "Therefore, Whitaker cannot serve as acting Attorney General ... Any other officer in the Justice Department who was appointed through advice and consent can serve, including the Deputy AG, the solicitor general, and the assistant AGs," said Yoo, now a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, a career Justice Department official already confirmed by the Senate, should have been named the new attorney general. Restrictions on Trump US intelligence agencies have said Russia interfered in the 2016 election in an attempt to tip it towards Trump and away from his Democratic opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Republican Senator Susan Collins said Mueller must be allowed to complete his investigation into whether Trump`s campaign colluded with Moscow. Trump has repeatedly said there was no collusion, and has slammed the probe as a "witch hunt." Russia has denied interfering. "I am concerned about comments that Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has made regarding the Special Counsel and the parameters of his investigation," Collins said in a statement. "We should bring to the Senate floor legislation that would put restrictions on the ability of President Donald Trump to fire the Special Counsel." Speaking to reporters at the White House before he left on a trip to Paris, Trump defended his choice of Whitaker, saying the former US attorney for the southern district of Iowa had an excellent reputation and came highly recommended by former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who is now Trump`s ambassador to China. Trump said on Friday he had not discussed the Mueller probe with Whitaker before appointing him. "He`s a highly respected man, especially by law enforcement, and I think he`s going to do a great job," Trump said. A spokeswoman for the Justice Department has said Whitaker would oversee all matters under its jurisdiction, including the Mueller investigation. Democrats have called on Whitaker to recuse himself.

Senate Democrats weigh lawsuit over Trump's appointment of new acting attorney general

Senate Democrats successfully convinced the US upper house to consider legislation to help keep guns out of the hands of terrorism suspects. 
 
The move, which could break a years-long logjam on gun control, follows demands for action after the weekend massacre of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Florida. 
 
Democrats took to the floor of the Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday to launch a procedural obstruction, known as a filibuster, to press colleagues to accept so-called &quot;no-fly no buy&quot; legislation. 
 
Under it, people on watch lists or no-fly lists would be barred from buying firearms. 
 
The filibuster was led by Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, where a 2012 school shooting left 20 children dead. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m at my wits&#39; end,&quot; said Murphy, as he began on Wednesday morning his hours-long takeover. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m going to remain on this floor until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together.&quot; 
 
Murphy, with support from 40 senators including Republican Pat Toomey, spent hours discussing ways to reduce gun violence. 
 
At 1:53 am (05:53 GMT) Thursday he claimed victory on Twitter. 
 
&quot;I am proud to announce that after 14+ hours on the floor, we will have a vote on closing the terror gap &amp; universal background checks,&quot; Murphy wrote. 
 
The chamber&#39;s Republican and Democratic leaders agreed &quot;on a path forward to get votes on a measure to assure that those on the terrorist watch list do not get guns&quot;, as well as an amendment that would expand background checks to sales at gun shows and on the internet, Murphy said. 
 
The filibuster &quot;captured the attention of our nation,&quot; Booker said. 
 
&quot;How many of our children&#39;s dreams must be destroyed by gun violence before we do the common-sense things that we agree on to begin to shrink those numbers?&quot; he asked. 
 
&quot;When you attack one American you attack us all.&quot; 
 
Republicans breaking ranks&nbsp; 
 
A Senate measure that would have stopped FBI terror suspects from buying firearms and explosives failed in December, with every Senate Republican but one voting in opposition. 
 
Some Republicans appear to be reconsidering, including congressman Bob Dold, who is locked in a tough re-election fight in Illinois. 
 
&quot;Thoughts and prayers are not enough,&quot; Dold said Tuesday on the House floor. &quot;It&#39;s time for action.&quot; 
 
Republican Toomey, whose bill to expand gun sale background checks failed in 2013 and again in 2015, worked with Democrats in a bid to break the gridlock. 
 
On Wednesday Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced a measure that would give the US attorney general authority to block the sale of guns or explosives to known or suspected terrorists. 
 
A US government report shows that known or suspected terrorists have passed background checks for gun sales more than 90 per cent of the time since 2004. 
 
Republicans largely oppose legislation that would deny weapons to people on such lists, arguing it would infringe on the Second Amendment rights of everyday Americans, including those who may have been placed unfairly on suspect lists. 
 
Studies however show a large majority of Americans support such limits. 
 
Trump and NRA&nbsp; 
 
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Wednesday said he hoped to address the terror watch list gun ban -- a softening of the steadfast gun-right stance he showed throughout the campaign. 
 
Trump may have changed his views after investigators found that the Orlando shooter legally bought his guns after he had been investigated for terror connections and reportedly placed on a watch list. 
 
This may put Trump on a collision course with the powerful National Rifle Association, which has said that restrictions &quot;like bans on gun purchases by people on &#39;watch lists&#39; are ineffective, unconstitutional or both&quot;. 
 
A Trump tweet on Wednesday read: &quot;I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns.&quot; 
 
The group answered that they would be &quot;happy to meet&quot; with the Republican flagbearer. 
 
&quot;The NRA believes that terrorists should not be allowed to purchase or possess firearms, period,&quot; NRA spokesman Chris Cox said. 
 
&quot;Anyone on a terror watch list who tries to buy a gun should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the sale delayed while the investigation is ongoing.&quot; 
 
Trump&#39;s Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton supports the limits. 
 
&quot;Surely we can agree, if the FBI is watching you for suspected terrorist links, you should not be able to buy a gun with no questions asked,&quot; she said. 
(AFP)

Filibuster pushes for 'No-fly no buy' legislation, prohibiting those on watch lists or no-fly lists from purchasing firearms

Senate Democrats successfully convinced the US upper house to consider legislation to help keep guns out of the hands of terrorism suspects. The move, which could break a years-long logjam on gun control, follows demands for action after the weekend massacre of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Florida. Democrats took to the floor of the Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday to launch a procedural obstruction, known as a filibuster, to press colleagues to accept so-called "no-fly no buy" legislation. Under it, people on watch lists or no-fly lists would be barred from buying firearms. The filibuster was led by Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, where a 2012 school shooting left 20 children dead. "I'm at my wits' end," said Murphy, as he began on Wednesday morning his hours-long takeover. "I'm going to remain on this floor until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together." Murphy, with support from 40 senators including Republican Pat Toomey, spent hours discussing ways to reduce gun violence. At 1:53 am (05:53 GMT) Thursday he claimed victory on Twitter. "I am proud to announce that after 14+ hours on the floor, we will have a vote on closing the terror gap & universal background checks," Murphy wrote. The chamber's Republican and Democratic leaders agreed "on a path forward to get votes on a measure to assure that those on the terrorist watch list do not get guns", as well as an amendment that would expand background checks to sales at gun shows and on the internet, Murphy said. The filibuster "captured the attention of our nation," Booker said. "How many of our children's dreams must be destroyed by gun violence before we do the common-sense things that we agree on to begin to shrink those numbers?" he asked. "When you attack one American you attack us all." Republicans breaking ranks A Senate measure that would have stopped FBI terror suspects from buying firearms and explosives failed in December, with every Senate Republican but one voting in opposition. Some Republicans appear to be reconsidering, including congressman Bob Dold, who is locked in a tough re-election fight in Illinois. "Thoughts and prayers are not enough," Dold said Tuesday on the House floor. "It's time for action." Republican Toomey, whose bill to expand gun sale background checks failed in 2013 and again in 2015, worked with Democrats in a bid to break the gridlock. On Wednesday Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced a measure that would give the US attorney general authority to block the sale of guns or explosives to known or suspected terrorists. A US government report shows that known or suspected terrorists have passed background checks for gun sales more than 90 per cent of the time since 2004. Republicans largely oppose legislation that would deny weapons to people on such lists, arguing it would infringe on the Second Amendment rights of everyday Americans, including those who may have been placed unfairly on suspect lists. Studies however show a large majority of Americans support such limits. Trump and NRA Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Wednesday said he hoped to address the terror watch list gun ban -- a softening of the steadfast gun-right stance he showed throughout the campaign. Trump may have changed his views after investigators found that the Orlando shooter legally bought his guns after he had been investigated for terror connections and reportedly placed on a watch list. This may put Trump on a collision course with the powerful National Rifle Association, which has said that restrictions "like bans on gun purchases by people on 'watch lists' are ineffective, unconstitutional or both". A Trump tweet on Wednesday read: "I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns." The group answered that they would be "happy to meet" with the Republican flagbearer. "The NRA believes that terrorists should not be allowed to purchase or possess firearms, period," NRA spokesman Chris Cox said. "Anyone on a terror watch list who tries to buy a gun should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the sale delayed while the investigation is ongoing." Trump's Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton supports the limits. "Surely we can agree, if the FBI is watching you for suspected terrorist links, you should not be able to buy a gun with no questions asked," she said. (AFP)

Orlando massacre might finally break US impasse on gun control

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US government shutdown would affect 800,000 federal employees

Senate Democrats weigh lawsuit over Trump's appointment of new acting attorney general

Orlando massacre might finally break US impasse on gun control