Congress Passes President Donald Trump’s ‘Deal’ To Reopen Government For 3 Weeks
Lawmakers from both the House and Senate passed a measure by unanimous consent on Friday to reopen the federal government for three weeks and negotiate border security funding, ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
The bill next heads to the White House. Earlier Friday, at an unplanned event in the Rose Garden, President Donald Trump said he plans to sign the bill into law even though the measure does not include any funding for his border wall – a demand that ultimately led to the shutdown.
“I am very proud to announce today that we have reached a deal to end the shutdown and reopen the federal government,” Trump said.
While the proposal reopens federal agencies closed by the shutdown, sources tell ABC News, it includes no funding for the president’s long-sought border wall.
The president said that while has decided not to declare a national emergency at this time, he has the ability to do so if members of Congress do not work on a deal for border security.
“If we don’t get a fair deal from Congress, the government either shut down on February 15th again or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the constitution of the United States to address this emergency,” Trump said.
