The government shutdown is over

By Meg Wagner, Veronica Rocha and Amanda Wills, CNN

Updated 10:01 p.m. ET, January 25, 2019
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1:45 p.m. ET, January 25, 2019

Today's airport delays played a key role in Trump backing down, source says

From CNN's Jeff Zeleny

A White House official says the air traffic delays at airports today played an important role in President Trump’s decision to back down — at least temporarily — on his insistence of wall funding to reopen the government.

“Planes have to keep flying. This is getting worse and worse,” a White House official says. “He knows this has to end.”

 

1:25 p.m. ET, January 25, 2019

Democrats say Trump is caving on the shutdown

From CNN's Manu Raju and Dana Bash 

Several Democratic sources briefed on the talks said that Trump is caving on the shutdown.

Why? This reported deal is exactly what they’ve been discussing for weeks — but what Trump has rejected. But remember: Everything is still fluid and Trump could say something they’re not expecting.

A GOP source familiar with the plan said the President (as of now) does not plan to announce an executive order.  

1:13 p.m. ET, January 25, 2019

SOON: President Trump speaks about the shutdown

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Trump will make an announcement about the shutdown at 1:30 p.m. ET today.

A senior White House official tells CNN that the President will announce "a way forward" on ending the shutdown this afternoon. 

But none of this is set in stone: Sources on the Hill caution that the situation on the shutdown is very fluid, and things could change rapidly. 

1:10 p.m. ET, January 25, 2019

Trump and Congress are close to a deal to reopen the government

From CNN's Phil Mattingly and Kaitlan Collins

Negotiators are moving toward an agreement on a deal to re-open the government, but it has not received final sign off from all sides, two sources familiar say.

Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is in direct talks with the White House over finalizing the language.

What's in it: The deal would be a CR for three weeks, which would include the current level of fencing and wall repair money ($1.3 billion for the year.) 

There are still issues over the backpay provisions that any agreement would include, one source says. Once it's passed, lawmakers would have three weeks to reach an agreement that addresses President Trump's border wall funding request. 

If they don't reach a deal, Trump is expected to say he'll invoke a national emergency. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s preference is to voice vote any deal announced today. Senators were told today in an email, but that is not a sure thing until every senator has signed off. 

Remember: Sources caution things are fluid and this could change. 

2:12 p.m. ET, January 25, 2019

14,000 IRS employees didn't show up for work

From CNN's Lauren Fox and Donna Borak

About 5,000 IRS workers cited hardships and did not show up for work and 9,000 others were not able to be reached, according to two congressional aides briefed on the matter.

Meanwhile, 12,000 of the 26,000 in the division — which includes processing centers and call centers — who were called back from furlough showed up for work, according to one House Democratic aide.

They were called back in anticipation of the filing season beginning.

According to one House Democratic aide, the Level of Service(that's the number of calls answered) in Wage and Investment has been around 35%. The plan was 80% for filing season.

The average time to answer the phone was 25 to 40 minutes.

For context: Last filing season it was 7 to 10 minutes

The Washington Post first reported the numbers.

12:06 p.m. ET, January 25, 2019

President Trump is expected to address the border and the shutdown this afternoon

From Jeff Zeleny, Kaitlan Collins, Tammy Kupperman

The White House is now making plans for an afternoon event today, where President Trump is poised to make an announcement about the border and the government shutdown, sources say. This was a last minute addition to the President's schedule, so the timing could change, but his staff is making preparations for him to speak now. 

White House officials have been exploring ways out of the government shutdown, which is now turning into a crisis as it affects air travel, ever since the two competing proposals failed in the Senate Thursday.

CNN’s exclusive reporting makes clear that invoking a national emergency is still on the table, though officials continue to say that they prefer solving this legislatively and have been in close negotiations with Sen. Mitch McConnell.  

Meanwhile, lawmakers on Capitol Hill have indicated that they are waiting to see what the President will accept. 

9:57 a.m. ET, January 25, 2019

Sarah Sanders to Democrats: "Sit down at the table. Let's negotiate"

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, asked about Americans who don't care "about the politics of the shutdown," said the White House wants to work with Democrats.

"The President is committed to ending the national security and humanitarian crisis at the border and we hope, as we have since day one of this process, that Democrats would actually work with us," she said.

She continued: "Quit being obstructionist. Quit just saying no. Sit down at the table. Let’s negotiate. Let’s come to an agreement. Let’s get a deal that actually helps federal workers and helps all Americans by protecting our border."

9:45 a.m. ET, January 25, 2019

Democrats and Republicans are finally talking

From CNN's Phil Mattingly

Five words from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Thursday night provided a brief burst of optimism — and showed that there's still long road to any resolution to the partial government shutdown.

“At least we’re still talking.” 

That McConnell and his Democratic counterpart, Senator Chuck Schumer, were talking is, in fact — progress given their relationship, and the negotiations in generally had been virtually frozen four weeks prior. But that they are only talking (and not, according to several sources, in the verge of clinching any deal) provides the best window into the moment: the crucial dynamics still haven’t shifted. 

The Bottom line: This is, as it has always been, about President Trump and Democratic leadership. Democratic leadership, with the sharp polling advantage, the stories of increasingly frustrated Republicans and a White House casting about without a clear strategy, have, as one Democratic senator told last night, “zero incentive” to give in to Trump. It was made clear last night, two sources tell me, the President isn’t ready to back down either. 

7:01 p.m. ET, January 24, 2019

Our live coverage has ended for the evening, but we'll be back tomorrow morning. Scroll through the posts below to read more about the shutdown or follow CNN Politics.