State Of The Union Status Unclear

(RollCall)

The logistics of the annual State of the Union address are in limbo, caught up in the partial government shutdown that has stretched into a second month.

President Donald Trump has so far refused to agree to delay his State of the Union address — unofficially scheduled for Tuesday — but without Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s cooperation, he will not be able to deliver it to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber.

Pelosi sent a letter to Trump last week citing security issues with hosting the State of the Union during a government shutdown and suggested he delay delivery of the address until the government is reopened or submit it in writing.

A week before the Jan. 29 date Pelosi initially proposed for Trump to deliver the address, the California Democrat had yet to receive a formal response from the White House about her request to delay it. She also has yet to bring before the House a concurrent resolution setting the date and time for the State of the Union, a measure that needs to be adopted by both chambers for there to be a joint session of Congress. Read more