Trump signs funding bill to end 69-hour govt shutdown

Washington, January 23 

Claiming victory, President Donald Trump has signed a short-term government funding bill ending the 69-hour shutdown as Democrats voted to reopen the government after a deal with ruling Republicans to hold a debate on the future of young undocumented immigrants.

The stop-gap funding, which expires on February 8, passed both the Senate and House by large margins last night after opposition Democrats received a commitment from Republicans toward securing the fate of hundreds of thousands of so-called “Dreamers” illegally brought to America as children. The spending bill passed the Senate by 81-18 and the House of Representatives by 266-150.

The measure funds the government till February 8, before which the Democrats and Republicans need to agree to a long-term solution to the government funding and on issues related to illegal immigration.

Claiming victory in his standoff with Democrats, Trump signed the measure into law and government operations would return to normal today.

Thousands of federal employees who had been placed on temporary, unpaid leave since Saturday breathed a sigh of relief.

“Big win for Republicans as Democrats cave on Shutdown,” Trump tweeted. “I am pleased that Democrats in Congress have come to their senses and are now willing to fund our great military, border patrol, first responders, and insurance for vulnerable children,” Trump said in a statement.

He said he will make a long-term deal on immigration only if it is good for the country and will work towards solving the problem, once the government is funded.

“As I have always said, once the government is funded, my administration will work toward solving the problem of very unfair illegal immigration. We will make a long-term deal on immigration if, and only if, it is good for our country,” he said.

“We will vote today to reopen the government,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said earlier on the Senate floor, saying he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had reached an “arrangement.”

McConnell reiterated the same on the Senate floor, adding the shutdown was distracting senators from focusing on passing legislation.

Following Democrats vote in the Senate to end the government shutdown, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the Democrats realise the position that they had taken, frankly, was indefensible. — PTI

‘Dreamers’ shattered 

• Young “Dreamers” brought to the US illegally as kids were angry and disappointed after the US Congress approved a temporary spending bill to end shutdown without a deal to shore up their shaky legal status
• US Senate Democrats accepted the bill in exchange for a promise by Republicans to hold a debate on the status of young immigrants
• President Trump ordered an end by March to protections provided to the estimated 700,000 Dreamers under the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme (DACA), an executive order put in place by Barack Obama