Trump, lawmakers set for showdown over border security

The House plans to vote on a bipartisan package of six Senate spending bills and a stopgap measure to re-open the Department of Homeland Security at its current funding levels until February 8, the aide said. The temporary measure would maintain the current $1.3 billion in border security money, which can be used for fencing and repairs of current barriers.

Trump is expected to meet Wednesday with the eight top congressional leaders: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Republican Conference Chair John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, presumptive incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, incoming House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and incoming House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, a congressional source familiar with the meeting told CNN.

But a Capitol Hill source familiar with the meeting told CNN that few details are known about the briefing, including who will lead it, what else is on the agenda or who else will be there. The source said it “appears to be more of a White House stunt than serious attempt to have a discussion” about the government funding standoff.

Meanwhile, the effects of the partial government shutdown are becoming more apparent.

A total of 800,000 federal employees have been furloughed or working without pay since December 21, and won’t receive their next paychecks until the government reopens.

The President is also set to hold a Cabinet meeting at noon on his outgoing White House chief of staff John Kelly’s last day at work. Mick Mulvaney, Kelly’s replacement, has already moved into the chief of staff’s office and is expected to address Cabinet officials and a few other senior staff before the meeting. It’s unclear if Kelly will attend.