Donald Trump thinks he’s found an answer to keeping his shutdown from dragging him down too much more: forcing more and more federal workers back on the job without pay. That way, at least the people who rely on the services the federal government provides won’t be too inconvenienced, even if it’s questionably legal to expand the definition of essential employees to “everyone whose work the public started to miss.” But Trump still isn’t getting the challenge from Republicans—particularly Senate Republicans—that would be most crucial to getting him to move.
Republican after Republican professes himself at a loss for what to do. According to Sen. John Cornyn, it was “Too much childishness. Not enough seriousness” when Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for the State of the Union to be canceled, followed by Trump canceling an overseas trip for Pelosi and other legislators. But Cornyn, the former No. 2 Republican in the Senate, isn’t pushing Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on reopening the government. Apparently that’s not the “seriousness” he’s looking for.
According to newly elected Republican Sens. Rick Scott and Mitt Romney, “everybody’s responsible” and “I’d like to see more progress. I’m sick that the government is shut down.” But again, there’s a thing they could do to change it: They could pressure McConnell to allow a vote. As long as they don’t do that, they’re responsible, too.
McConnell keeps saying he’ll only move forward with something Trump would sign, but there’s a problem with that whole idea, which independent Maine Sen. Angus King nails, saying, “I could sit down with Mike Pence for an afternoon and we might come to some agreement. And then [Trump would] blow it up.” That’s why asking Trump’s opinion on a deal, or waiting for Trump to make any concession, is futile: He can’t be trusted to follow through on what he agrees to. Forcing his hand is the only way to go, pressure from Republicans is likely the quickest way to force his hand … and Republicans are completely unwilling to try.