SHUTDOWN ENDS
Donald Trump announces US government is set to reopen after shutdown over wall funding left thousands without pay for five weeks
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has announced that he has set a deal to reopen the US government after a shutdown of federal agencies.
Sources say the pact does not include any funds that the Republican president has demanded to build his wall on the Mexican border.
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Trump said a deal had been reached on legislation that would reopen the U.S. government through February 15.
"I am very proud to announce today that we have reached a deal to end the shutdown and reopen the federal government," Trump said at the White House.
Trump said in the meantime a bipartisan committee of lawmakers would meet to discuss the nation's border security needs.
I am very proud to announce today that we have reached a deal to end the shutdown and reopen the federal government
Donald Trump
The former businessman had shut down the US government on December 22 after Democrats refused to fund his $5.7bn (£4.3bn) US-Mexico boarder wall.
He said that federal workers affected by the political mayhem caused would receive full back-pay.
This came as around 800,000 civil servants missed another payday in the five-week dilemma.
LARGE DOWN PAYMENT
Trump's opponents have accused him of exaggerating the issue for political gain and claim there are better forms of border security than a wall.
Yesterday Trump climbed down from his £4.3billion demand for a border wall yesterday as his proposal to re-open the government failed.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a tweet that Trump will accept a “large down payment” on the border wall instead.
Trump’s latest plan to reopen the government – with his wall funding - failed 50 votes to 47 in the Senate yesterday.
But should he win backing for his down payment he would only agree a three-week short-term spending budget to temporarily reopen the government.
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At the White House, President Donald Trump told reporters he'd support "a reasonable agreement".
He said he has "other alternatives" for getting wall funding, an apparent reference to his disputed claim that he could declare a national emergency.
This would allow him to authorise funds for the wall — which has an estimated price tag of $5.7billion (£4.3billion).
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