Federal workers in Michigan are getting anxious with the deadline for another potential partial government shutdown less than a week away.
The White House is not ruling out another government shutdown, as lawmakers continue to negotiate funding for President Donald Trump's proposed border wall.
In Sunday talk show appearances on NBC's "Meet the Press" and "Fox News Sunday," acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said "you absolutely cannot" rule out the possibility that the government may shutter again on Friday. But Mulvaney also said that Trump was willing to explore funding alternatives.
The president has asked for $5.7 billion. Talks are centered around far less, around $1.6 billion. Mulvaney said that if Congress approves a lesser amount, Trump could make up the difference from elsewhere in the government or, if needed, the president could declare a national emergency.
Funding for some federal agencies runs out February 15.
Without a deal, that would mean thousands of federal workers in Michigan would face a second partial shutdown within a month of the last one.
Mark Coryell is a union local president for EPA workers in Ann Arbor.
“Emotionally, I don’t think they’re ready for another one. They did not like what they went through before,” says Coryell.
Coryell says they are still working to catch up on the work they missed during the 35-day partial federal government shutdown.
