News analysis

With Trump digging in, government shutdown could set new record

Impasse over wall funding continues as neither Republicans nor Democrats want to lose face

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The US' partial federal government shutdown is poised to become the longest in its history, with neither side budging in a gruelling political stand-off over funding for a wall on the country's border with Mexico.

President Donald Trump, who wants US$5.7 billion (S$7.7 billion) for the wall - which he now says will be made of steel slats instead of concrete - walked out of a meeting with Democratic Party leaders on Wednesday, calling it a "total waste of time".

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 11, 2019, with the headline With Trump digging in, government shutdown could set new record. Subscribe