The majority-GOP House approved Mr Trump’s funding bill as directed, but Democratic Senators have vowed to block it, with the party only willing to approve $US1.3 billion ($A1.8 billion) for border security.

“We will get it done, one way or the other!” Mr Trump tweeted on Friday morning. “The Democrats now own the shutdown!”

If the funding bill is not approved in the Senate, the US government will face partial shutdown, with nine of 15 agencies closing, leaving the nation in turmoil.

Famous sites such as the Statue of Liberty could close, travellers may face severe delays and government workers will be placed on leave without pay or have to wait for their wages. The scenario could cost the US economy billions of dollars.

Mr Trump was resolute in the face of impending chaos. “People don’t want Open Borders and Crime!” he tweeted.

He claimed there was “nothing else’s (sic) that will work” to fix immigration issues in the US other than a wall along the southern border with Mexico.

He compared his wall to the wheel, insisting “there is nothing better” and that he “knows tech better than anyone”.

The “nuclear option” is a procedure that allows the Senate to override this and end a debate with a simple majority of 51 votes.

Ms Sanders said Mr Trump would “love” House Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to lower the threshold.

He tweeted: “Mitch, use the Nuclear Option and get it done! Our Country is counting on you!”

Mr McConnell has not previously seemed open to raising the option.

SPIRALLING TOWARDS SHUTDOWN

The wall has long been Mr Trump’s signature promise, and one he sees as vital to winning reelection in 2020.

Last week, he claimed he would be “proud” to shut down the government if Congress did not approve his funding. During a public spat with Democrat leaders in a televised Oval Office meeting, Mr Trump said he would “wear the mantle” if a shutdown took place.

But by Friday, he had changed his tune, and was ready to blame the other side. “If enough Dems don’t vote, it will be a Democrat Shutdown!” he tweeted.

It unleashed a war of words between the two sides, with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer telling reporters late on Thursday: “The bill that’s on the floor of the House, everyone knows will not pass the Senate.”

Kevin McCarthy, the leader of Republican politicians in the House, said: “Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats now have to decide whether it is worth shutting down the government to keep us from securing our border.”

Ms Sanders had indicated a reversal on Tuesday, saying the administration did not want a shutdown and would look at “other ways to get to” the $US5 billion ($A7 billion) Mr Trump wants to build his wall.

There was discussion of using defence money to fund it.

But Mr Trump ignored many advisers by backing away from a stopgap bill without the wall money that would have averted the looming closures.

The Senate is being called back to session to consider the package approved by the House, but is expected to reject it.

The White House said Mr Trump will not travel to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Friday as planned for Christmas if the government is shutting down.

Politicians could then work to find a solution that is accepted by everyone.

Congress is staring down the barrel of its third shutdown in two years, with funding not yet agreed for nine of 15 government agencies — including NASA and the Food and Drug Administration.

More than 800,000 federal workers will be affected, with the departments of commerce, justice, agriculture, homeland security and national parks forced to close.

Workers not classified as essential to public safety at the unfunded agencies would be put on temporary leave and none would be paid until the matter is resolved.

Three-quarters of government programs are fully funded up to next October, including those carried out by the defence, labour, veterans affairs and health and human services departments.

Senators already passed their own short-term spending bill with border security money, but that plan provided no money for the wall.

— With wires

Source:news.com.au