The national security threats in Syria and North Korea of late put even more importance on Congress passing a budget and avoiding a government shutdown, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., warned Sunday.
"The last thing we can afford is to send a message to the world that the United States government, by the way, is only partially functioning," Sen. Rubio told host John Dickerson on CBS's "Face The Nation."
"That would just have catastrophic impact, in my view, or certainly very destabilizing impact on global affairs. We should keep that in mind going into this week."
Government funding expires Friday and the Office of Management and Budget has taken routine steps in a potential shutdown of non-essential government services.
"I don't think anyone thinks a shutdown is desirable," OMB Director Mick Mulvaney told "Fox News Sunday."
There is talk President Trump might insist on Congress approving funding for his border wall with Mexico, which might lead to a shutdown. Sen. Rubio dismissed the wall being a reason to shut down government as the White House and Mulvaney negotiates with Democrats.
"I think that's a fight worth having and a conversation and debate worth having for 2018," Sen. Rubio told Dickerson. "If we can do some of that now, that would be great, but we cannot shut down the government right now."
Congress' resistance to the budget will be "holding hostage national security," Mulvaney told "Fox News Sunday."
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