WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional bargainers traded offers and worked toward a border security compromise Friday that would avert a fresh federal shutdown and resolve a clash with President Donald Trump that has dominated the opening weeks of divided government. differencesBoth sides' negotiators expressed optimism that an accord could be reached soon on a spending package for physical barriers along the Southwest border and other security measures. But the momentum was clearly toward clinching an agreement that Congress could pass by next Friday. Besides facing unified Democratic opposition, there is virtually no GOP support in Congress for another shutdown. But ending the border security fight would close one chapter that's bruised him, including his surrender after a 35-day partial federal shutdown that he started by unsuccessfully demanding taxpayer money to build the border wall.

Source: Economic Times February 08, 2019 19:18 UTC