Congress passed legislation Friday to end the longest government shutdown ever, sending it to President Donald Trump’s desk after a grueling 35-day closure.
Trump pledged to sign the proposal into law earlier Friday. The bill funds the government for three weeks, until Feb. 15, while lawmakers try to reach a wider deal on immigration. Both chambers passed the spending legislation by voice vote.
Read more: Trump announces deal to end shutdown and temporarily reopen government
Trump had demanded $5.7 billion to build his border wall before he agreed to end the partial closure — but relented on Friday. Congress will set up a bipartisan, bicameral conference committee to try to strike a deal on border security. Trump again argued for a border wall Friday — and threatened to let funding lapse or even declare a national emergency if Congress does not craft an immigration deal he likes. Trump agreed to end the shutdown as the pain from the wall impasse sharpened.
Facing backlash from some conservatives for supporting a plan he had pledged to veto, Trump defended his decision to strike a deal on Friday.
“This was in no way a concession,” the president wrote in a tweet. “It was taking care of millions of people who were getting badly hurt by the Shutdown with the understanding that in 21 days, if no deal is done, it’s off to the races!”
About 800,000 federal workers started to miss their second paychecks Friday since funding lapsed last month. Many had to scramble to cover meals and bills during the closure. If the plan becomes law, they are expected to get back pay in four to five days, an administration official told CNBC on Friday.
“I hope the experience of the last 35 days has taught us that we should never repeat this exercise of shutting down government again,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said after the House approved the funding measure Friday.
Democrats had repeatedly urged Trump to reopen the government before lawmakers had a border security debate. Speaking after the president on Friday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that “we can never hold American workers hostage again.”
The deal only temporarily delays another shutdown — or a potential constitutional fight over the president’s power to declare a national emergency. Lawmakers may still fail to reach an immigration deal that satisfies Trump.
The Senate chose seven members to send to the conference committee:
- Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala. (Appropriations Committee chairman)
- Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.
- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V.
- Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D.
- Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. (Senate Minority Whip)
- Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont.
— CNBC’s Eamon Javers contributed to this report.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
