"You think I like doing this? I don't like doing this," President Trump told reporters regarding the shutdown, which is now in its third week.

But like it or not, Democrats say the president's $5.5 billion demand for a border wall has made pawns of federal workers.

"We ought to have that argument on the substance and not have 800,000 employees held hostage," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told NBC's "Meet the Press."

However, the acting White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, says the president's request is only one side of the coin.

"Keep in mind it takes two to tango in this town," Mulvaney said on CNN's "State of the Union." "I could just as easily say that it's the Democrats' refusal to give the necessary money for border security that is the cause of the shutdown."

President Trump says if Democrats don't want a wall, he's happy to call it something else.

"If I have a steel wall, or you could call it a steel fence, it'll be more powerful than any of the concrete walls that we're talking about. It's possible that it'll look better," said Trump.

If that doesn't work, he's floated other options.

"I may declare a national emergency dependent on what's going to happen over the next few days," continued Trump.

Doing so would allow the president to tap into $10 billion of unused funds set aside for the US Army Corps of Engineers.

"He could technically go down that route," CBN News Chief Political Analyst David Brody explained. "He would actually have to explain the statute that he is using the emergency for."

Although the National Emergencies Act has been on the book for more than four decades, Brody says the president would still need congressional buy-in.

"Here's a bit of the rub: Congress, if they didn't want him to invoke this national emergency, would be able to overturn it by basically saying, 'No, Mr. President, you can't do it' if they can pass a joint resolution in both the House and the Senate," said Brody. "That means the language has to be the same in the Democrat House and the Republican Senate. Good luck with that."

On CBN's Monday edition of "Faith Nation," Indiana Republican Sen. Mike Braun said the president would likely find support from the GOP side of the aisle.

"If he declared a national emergency and thought it needed to be done in that fashion, most of us would be for it," said Braun, "because it looks like the other side is doing everything it can to do nothing."

But there's still the human side to all of this back and forth—like the bills stacking up for unpaid federal employees.

"Our mortgage, our gas, electric, trash, water bill," said federal worker Marilyn Carrothers.

Three weeks in, many workers are resorting to paying bills with credit cards.

"Creditors may make an extension, but if you go past that extension it's going to affect your credit," warned Carrothers.

And these workers are left wondering—who will pay the interest fees if their paychecks don't come in time?

"We want to go back to work. We need to go back to work. We have bills to pay," said Carrothers. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Hundreds Accept Jesus Christ in Poland at Franklin Graham Rally

Grammy-Winning Christian Artist Mandisa Has Died: Report

How You Can Send Letters of Encouragement to Jailed Pro-Life Heroes

'Americans Cannot Allow the Biden Administration to Sign Away Their Birthright': Congressmen Warn of WHO Pandemic Agreement

Illegal Immigrants Being Moved into Soldiers' Home Where Veterans Must Pay to Stay

House Democrats Vow to Codify 'Rights' to Trans Surgeries, Hormones, Puberty Blockers

18-Year-Old Female Trans Student Charged for Planning Two Maryland School Shootings, Manifesto Said She Wanted to Be 'Famous'

Israel Strikes Deep Inside Iran, Nuclear Facilities NOT Hit

An Important Message from Japan to the world about the WHO, Japan and the Next So-called 'Vaccine'

Rand Paul: Brave Marine Revealed that 15 US Agencies Knew COVID-19 Was Created in Lab in 2018; But They Kept It Secret from American Public (VIDEO)

Confirmed: Researchers Reveal COVID mRNA Vaccines Contain Component that Suppresses Immune Response and Stimulates Cancer Growth

Farmers, Truckers Warn California Emissions Mandates Will Cause 'Catastrophic' Supply Chain Crisis

Fed Court Overturns State Law Protecting Women's Sports from 'Transgender' Athletes

Furry Infestation: Middle School Students Walk Out in Protest after School Leaders Allow 'Furries' to Terrorize Them (VIDEO)

Biden's Education Secretary Vows to Shut Down the Largest Christian University in the US

US to Back Rafah Op in Exchange for Israel Dropping Major Iran Strike; Report

Schumer Succeeds in Killing Off Mayorkas Impeachment Trial before It Can Even Begin

California Town Tears Down Beloved Hillside Cross

Danielle Smith Again Defends Alberta's Coming Ban on Transgender Mutilation of Children

Detransitioners: We Were Pushed to Transition as Teens, Now We're 'Vindicated' By Study Showing Kids Grow Out of It