Trump Signs Deal to End 35-Day Government Shutdown

Washington D.C. – President Donald Trump signed legislation today to reopen the federal government, bringing an end to a 35-day partial shutdown that became the longest in U.S. history.

The agreement, reached late yesterday after intense negotiations with Congressional leaders, provides temporary funding for affected government agencies through February 15th. The shutdown impacted roughly 800,000 federal employees, many of whom were furloughed or worked without pay. The deal does not include funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a key demand of the President, but allows for continued negotiations on that issue.

“I am very proud to announce that we have reached an agreement to end the shutdown and reopen our government,” President Trump stated following the signing. “I believe it will be a great compromise for everyone.” The agreement came as the shutdown began to severely strain government services, including air travel and food safety inspections. For more on the impact of government shutdowns, see resources from the Congressional Research Service.

The temporary funding measure allows for time to negotiate a broader agreement on border security and overall government spending. This shutdown highlighted the growing challenges of budget negotiations in a divided government. Officials indicated that further talks will begin immediately to avoid another lapse in funding.

The White House has stated that the President remains committed to securing funding for border security, and negotiations are expected to be contentious in the coming weeks.