Trump Signs Short-Term Funding Bill To Reopen Government

WASHINGTON, DC — President Donald Trump has signed a bill to fund the federal government through Feb. 8 hours after both chambers of Congress passed the short-term funding resolution. A White House official confirmed to The Associated Press that Trump signed the bill, ending a 69-hour shutdown.

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are expected to return to work on Tuesday morning, said White House press secretary Sarah Sanders.

Democrats in the Senate reluctantly agreed on Monday to vote for the bill in exchange for Republican promises that the chamber would soon consider plans to protect young immigrant "dreamers" and other hotly debated matters. The vast majority of Senate Republicans voted with 33 Democrats to end the government shutdown. Fifteen Democrats, Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Republican Sens. Rand Paul and Mike Lee voted against the measure. The shutdown began at midnight Friday and many federal government offices began furloughing workers and cutting back their activities on Monday.

“It would be my intention to take up legislation here in the Senate that would address DACA, border security, and related issues, as well as disaster relief, defense funding, healthcare and other important matters,” Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The bill only extends government funding for another three weeks. It's possible lawmakers could find themselves with another government shutdown looming at the end of the period and no progress made on the topics in contention.

The government could then shut down again — perhaps for even longer.

The government shut down this time after negotiations between Democrats and Republicans stalled over protections for roughly 700,000 young immigrants brought illegally to America as children, who were covered under the Obama-era program known as DACA. The administration announced in September it would wind down the program, but President Trump urged Congress to find a legislative fix for the issue. When a bipartisan group of senators reached an agreement, however, the White House shot it down.

“After several discussions, offers, counteroffers, the Republican leader and I have come to an arrangement,” said Democratic Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of his agreement with McConnell. Schumer supported the bill to reopen the government.

"I expect [McConnell] to fulfill his commitment to the Senate & abide by this agreement," Schumer tweeted. "If he does not honor our agreement, he will have breached the trust of not only the Democratic Senators but the members of his own party as well."

The agreement also funds the Children's Health Insurance Program — CHIP — which funds coverage for millions of low-income children Funding for the program first lapsed in October 2017.

Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois called the issue of immigration and so-called "Dreamers" — those covered by DACA — the civil rights issue of our time. Durbin told young immigrants not to give up hope.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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