Capitol Hill negotiators are hopeful of an agreement as they officially kick off talks on a homeland security spending bill that has been trapped in a stalemate over President Donald Trump‘s long-stalled border wall.
The impasse led to the nation’s longest government shutdown.
WATCH: U.S. lawmakers begin work to find border security deal in order to prevent another shutdown
Left on their own, the seasoned House and Senate lawmakers say they could easily reach a border security deal as they have for two years in a row. But whether Trump would sign it is another matter.
Trump has grown impatient, and his demands on his U.S.-Mexico border wall are insistent even though Democrats took back the House.
READ MORE: Despite Trump’s claims, U.S.-Mexico border isn’t on intelligence agencies’ major threats list
Democrats remain united against Trump’s vision for a massive wall project, yet some are signalling a willingness to deal in the wake of the 35-day partial government shutdown.
WATCH: Jan. 27 — White House warns Trump could shut down government again