Trump's former adviser: U.S. shows interest in investing in "Nord Stream" pipeline; White House: Partial government shutdown cost the nation $2.5 billion

Sputnik News, Moscow, March 23 – George Papadopoulos, a former adviser to U.S. President Trump, told Sputnik News that the United States has shown interest in potentially investing in the "Nord Stream" and "Nord Stream 2" natural gas pipeline projects.

Papadopoulos said: "I believe the 'Nord Stream' and 'Nord Stream 2' pipeline projects are extremely important and highly attractive for potential U.S. investment."

He believes that after sanctions are lifted, cooperation between Russia and the U.S. could resume, including in the energy sector.

The Nord Stream natural gas export pipeline, with an annual capacity of 55 billion cubic meters across the Baltic Sea, began operations in 2012, bypassing transit countries and supplying Russian natural gas to European consumers uninterrupted for a decade. Nord Stream 2 was intended to double this export capacity, with construction completed in September 2021, but it has never entered operation. One year later, in September 2022, explosions destroyed one of Nord Stream 2’s pipelines and two parallel pipelines of the original Nord Stream.

Germany, Denmark, and Sweden have not ruled out the possibility of targeted sabotage. Nord Stream AG, the pipeline operator, stated that the damage to the gas pipelines was unprecedented, and the repair time cannot be estimated. The Russian General Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into the incident as an act of international terrorism.

Sputnik News, Washington, March 23 – The White House said the partial government shutdown has cost the country $2.5 billion.

The partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security has lasted over a month. The most severely affected is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), whose employees have gone weeks without pay. As a result, many staff have been absent, leading to long queues at airports waiting for security checks.

In a statement on the X social media platform, the White House said: "Over 400 TSA employees have resigned. Loss: $2.5 billion."

Earlier on March 22, Trump announced he would dispatch Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to ensure airport safety in the U.S. starting March 23 amid these developments.

The budget for the Department of Homeland Security became a stumbling block in the Senate, triggering the partial government shutdown: following a series of incidents, including two shootings by federal agents in Minnesota that resulted in fatalities, Democrats demanded strict restrictions on ICE. Funding for other departments has already been approved by Congress and signed by Trump, valid until September 30. Meanwhile, ICE and Customs and Border Protection can use additional funds under Trump’s tax reform framework.

By the end of 2025, the U.S. experienced its longest government shutdown in history, lasting from October 1 to November 12—43 days. At that time, lawmakers agreed to extend government funding through January 30 of this year. The second shutdown was partial, lasting from January 31 to February 3.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860430037820428/

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