The government shutdown is over

President Trump, speaking about Commerce Sec. Wilbur Ross’ remarks about not understanding why federal workers are applying for food stamps amid the partial government shutdown, said “perhaps he should have said it differently”.

Asked about it during a photo op, Trump said:

What Ross said earlier today: When asked in a CNBC interview on Thursday about reports that federal workers are going to homeless shelters or seeking food assistance, the billionaire investor said: "Well, I know they are and I don't really quite understand why, because as I mentioned before, the obligations that they would undertake, say borrowing from a bank or a credit union, are in effect federally guaranteed, so the 30 days of pay that some people will be out is no real reason why they shouldn't be able to get a loan against it."

Even as lawmakers discuss a short-term measure to fund the government, President Trump again raised the prospect of other ways to fund a border wall without congressional approval.

Trump said repeatedly he had "alternatives" to secure the wall funding, which he said he was prepared to use.

"A lot of people who wants this to happen. The military wants this to happen. This is a virtual invasion of our country," Trump said.

Trump hailed a GOP measure that failed in the Senate on Thursday, saying most Republicans held strong even as the bill went down. Still, Trump suggested there were other ways for him to secure border wall funding outside of Congress.

"They're meeting to see if they can work out something, maybe on a temporary basis is where we'll start," he said. "We have a lot of alternatives.

The White House is preparing a draft proclamation for President Trump to declare a national emergency along the southern border and has identified more than $7 billion in potential funds for his signature border wall should he go that route, according to internal documents reviewed by CNN. 

Trump has not ruled out using his authority to declare a national emergency and direct the Defense Department to construct a border wall as Congress and the White House fight over a deal to end the government shutdown. But while Trump's advisers remain divided on the issue, the White House has been moving forward with alternative plans that would bypass Congress.

"The massive amount of aliens who unlawfully enter the United States each day is a direct threat to the safety and security of our nation and constitutes a national emergency," a draft of a presidential proclamation reads. 

"Now, therefore, I, Donald J. Trump, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C 1601, et seq.), hereby declare that a national emergency exists at the southern border of the United States," the draft adds.

The draft was updated as recently as last week, a US government official told CNN.

The administration, according to options being considered, could pull: $681 million from treasury forfeiture funds, $3.6 billion in military construction, $3 billion in Pentagon civil works funds, and $200 million in Department of Homeland Security funds, the official said.

The Defense Department referred a request for comment from CNN to the White House, which has not responded.

If the declaration is made, the US Army Corps of Engineers would be deployed to construct the wall, some of which could be built on private property and would therefore require the administration to seize the land, which is permitted if it's for public use.

President Trump, in an unplanned press availability Thursday evening, suggested that one of the ideas being floated by Congress is a “pro-rated down payment” for a border wall.

He went on to say: "In fact, I see a lot of the Democrats -- almost all of them are breaking saying, 'Walls are good.'Walls are good.' Big difference from what you had two or three weeks ago."

Trump also praised Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia for supporting a GOP bill that failed to advance in the Senate earlier today.

Some Senate Democrats are beginning to push back on President Trump’s demand for a “large down payment” in exchange for three-week continuing resolution.

Debbie Stabenow, a member of Senate Democratic leadership, said giving into Trump will mean White House will use a shutdown to get whatever they want next time.

“What does he hold workers’ wages hostage for next? How many times will he try to hold wages hostage?” she asked.

Sen. Angus King, an Independent lawmaker who caucuses with Democrats and is part of a negotiating group, said this:

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer just left Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office.

He said “we’re talking” repeatedly to reporters’ questions as he walked back to his office.

He said that phrase seven times — and he had a smile on his face. 

The White House has made clear a key demand on any deal.

Her remark comes shortly after the Senate failed to advance two proposals to reopen the government.

The FBI Honors Internship Program is on pause while the shutdown continues, according to an FBI official. 

All FBI Honors Interns are furloughed, and they may return to work once the shutdown ends, the FBI official said. FBI Honors Interns are paid for their semester-long internship. The 2019 Summer Internship program will go on as scheduled. 

The FBI typically selects approximately 700 new interns each semester, who are assigned to work at FBI Headquarters, at the Bureau’s research and laboratory facilities at Quantico, Virginia, and in each of the FBI’s 56 field offices around the country.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said he just spoke with President Trump and told him they are talking about a three-week continuing resolution to reopen the government.

He said Trump laid out his conditions, which he said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are discussing right now.