White House Legislative Affairs Director Marc Short on Saturday accused Democrats for triggering the federal government shutdown, saying they are "conducting a 2-year-old temper tantrum in front of the American people."
"What is hard for us to understand is there is nothing in the bill that Democrats say they object to," Short told reporters at a joint press briefing with White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney.
"But, yet, it is like a 2-year-old temper tantrum — to say: 'I will take my toys and go home, because I am upset about something else.'
"It has nothing to do with this bill," Short said, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which Democrats have insisted be a part of any government funding bill.
"The Democrats are conducting a 2-year-old temper tantrum in front of the American people."
Republicans and Democrats remained bitterly divided Saturday over the DACA issue and appeared to be no closer to ending the shutdown, which began just after midnight Friday.
The White House made clear the government must begin functioning again before discussing the program created by former President Barack Obama to protect nearly 700,000 immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
"We will not negotiate the status of 690,000 unlawful immigrants while hundreds of millions of tax-paying Americans, including hundreds of thousands of our troops in uniform and border agents protecting our country, are held hostage by Senate Democrats," Short told reporters.
"We remain to continue to be anxious to reach a deal on DACA — and we look forward to resuming the negotiations as soon as the Senate Democrats reopen the government."
Mulvaney said the Trump administration was working to mitigate the impact of the funding lapse, noting many national parks and government offices will be open during the duration and Americans in such entitlement programs as Social Security and Medicaid would be paid.
But he said the effects of the shutdown would still be significant.
Federal employees were notified Saturday whether they were exempt or furloughed — and the EPA and federal cybersecurity operations would be open for essential services.
In addition, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., would remain open — and the Centers for Disease Control will maintain emergency surveillance operations to battle the current national flu epidemic.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative also would remain open, Mulvaney said, allowing for the administration to engage in another round of scheduled talks on NAFTA next week.
President Donald Trump will not travel to Florida this weekend to mark the first anniversary of his inauguration, Mulvaney said, and the administration is evaluating whether Trump will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next week "on a day-by-day basis."
Short added 90,000 members of the National Guard and 20,000 Army reservists have had their training canceled — and they would have to pay for their own travel costs and incur other personal expenses.
Both Mulvaney and Short ripped Democrats for holding out on DACA, which has a March 5 deadline, when both parties had agreed on many other parts of a House bill passed Thursday that would keep the government open for four weeks.
The plan included a six-year extension for the Children's Health Insurance Program, as well as two-year delays for imposing two Obamacare taxes, on top-line "Cadillac" plans and the medical-device surcharge.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky early Saturday amended the House bill to fund the government for three weeks.
"I am hopeful that Democrats will understand the harm they are doing for the border patrol agents and the harm to the troops overseas and the inconveniences they are placed on millions of Americans," Short said. "It's time to open up the government again."
When asked how long the government would remain closed, Mulvaney responded: "Ask the Democrats in the Senate, because it could end today."
A 16-day partial shutdown in October 2013 cost taxpayers $1.4 billion. Other closures occurred in 1995 and 1996.
President Trump tweeted earlier Saturday on the shutdown, also blaming Democrats:
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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