Donald Trump speaks to reporters, White House, January 24, 2019

Donald Trump will not deliver a State of the Union address to Congress, because of the Trump Shutdown over his demand for $5.7 billion for The Wall with Mexico.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi reconfirmed on Wednesday, in a letter to Trump, that the House’s invitation to speak on January 29 was suspended because of security issues raised by the record-setting 34-day shutdown.

Trump tried to show defiance, saying he would deliver the address — given in person to Congress since President Woodrow Wilson’s term in the early 20th century — and issuing a stream of jabs at Pelosi.

But on Wednesday night he backed down on Twitter, saying there will be speech until his shutdown is ended.

In response, Pelosi pressed her point over the shutdown, leaving almost 800,000 federal workers without pay and affecting millions of Americans amid the closure of parts or all of nine Government departments:

Trump has refused to budge on his demand for the first payment on the $25 billion Wall. Just before the closure of the Government at midnight on December 21, he rejected a unananimously-passed Senate resolution to maintain funding, with $1.3 billion for border security. He rebuffed a similar measure adopted by the House when Democrats took control on January 3.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell protected Trump by refusing consideration of the House resolution. Instead he and the White House are tabling a proposal, set out by Trump last Saturday, for the Wall funding in return for limited protections for immigrants which Trump tried to end last year.

TrumpWatch, Day 733: Senate to Consider Bills Over Trump Shutdown and The Wall

House Democrat leaders reiterated on Wednesday that they are prepared to allocate funds for border security beyond the $1.3 billion already proposed. The money would include support of infrared technology and electronic sensors, more border guards, and more judges to hear the cases of migrants.

The latest House measure, passed Wednesday, reopens the Government with $1.5 billion for border security. But there is no chance of White House acceptance or of presentation to the Senate, which is discussing two competing resolutions — a McConnell-led effort for The Wall, and a Democrat-led initiative to reopen the Government — on Thursday.

Federal employees will miss their second paycheck on Friday. Airport security and processing of tax refunds are being affected by the refusal of staff to work without pay. Handling of subsidies for farmers is suspended, as is consideration of tariff for manufacturers affected by Trump’s trade wars.

Further economic damage is being caused by the effect on contractors working on Government projects. This week the cost of the shutdown was estimated at more than $5 billion — roughly the sum demanded by Trump for The Wall.

Signalling that the White House is preparing for months of shutdown, Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney has asked agencies for a list of programs that will be jeopardized if the closure continues into March and April.

“People familiar with the directive” said Mulvaney wants the list no later than Friday.

The General Services Administration, managing many of the government’s leases and contracts, has notified departments that it has no plan to pay utility and lease payments in February.