Vice President Mike Pence has been the White House’s primary link to critical House conservatives in tricky legislative negotiations in the past. | Win McNamee/Getty Images Pence still plans to leave D.C. Friday, despite shutdown drama

Vice President Mike Pence still plans to depart for a trip to the Middle East on Friday evening, his office said Thursday, as a government shutdown appeared increasingly likely.

Pence has been the White House’s primary link to critical House conservatives in tricky legislative negotiations in the past, particularly with the House Freedom Caucus. On Wednesday, he met with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy about government funding, which expires Friday unless Congress extends it.


House conservatives will likely prove critical to passing any continuing resolution to keep the government running, especially if Democrats vote against it, as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is urging.

Many Democrats want protections for young undocumented immigrants known as Dreamers included in any funding bill. But lawmakers and the White House have yet to reach a deal on immigration, and it is not addressed in the short-term funding package crafted by GOP leaders.

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President Donald Trump’s early morning tweet about the Children’s Health Insurance Program left already fragile negotiations in greater confusion. The GOP bill would extend CHIP for six years in an effort to pick up more votes, even though it extends government funding only until Feb. 16.

Trump was also scheduled to leave town next week: The White House has said he will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

