President Trump Signs Bill Ending Longest Government Shutdown In U.S. History
WASHINGTON, D.C. (CBSNewYork/AP) – President Donald Trump signed a bill that temporarily opens the federal government for three weeks, ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history at 35 days.
The White House says Trump signed the measure after the Senate and House each passed it Friday.
Trump backed down from his demand that Congress provide more border wall money before federal agencies get back to work. But he warns that the government could shut down again "if we don't get a fair deal from Congress."
"This is in no way a concession," Trump tweeted. "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."
He is also holding out the possibility of taking executive action.
The debate over border security will continue while the temporary resolution is in place. In the meantime, the deal will take stress off government agencies and the nearly 800,000 workers who have missed two paychecks since the shutdown began 35 days ago.
"I believe Donald Trump has learned his lesson," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said. "Shutdowns, holding workers hostage, are self-defeating and he learned his lesson the hard way. But I don't think he would ever do it again."
WEB EXTRA - See President Trump's Entire Announcement On The Government Shutdown Here:
Anthony Tseng hasn't been paid since Christmas week. In that time, he's lowered his thermostat two degrees, skipped out on meals, and cancelled medical appointments to make ends meat.
"Watching my budget obviously, making tough decisions," he told CBS2.
Friday night, Tseng and several of his colleagues at the Environmental Protection Agency attended a free dinner organized by other unions as a show of solidarity for those who were struggling.
The dinner was planned before the president's announcement earlier Friday, but dozens still came with their spouses and children.
"This is a temporary solution, and I think we can expect conflicts to continue," EPA worker Sharon Hartzell said.
In his address, Trump said that if a deal to pay for a barrier along the southern border and fund the government long-term is not reached by Feb. 15 he would be left with just two options.
"The government will either shut down on Feb. 15 again or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the Constitution of the United States to address this emergency... We will have great security."
Locally, the shutdown has taken its toll on airports in the Tri-State area. Flights at LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International airports were delayed Friday due to air traffic control staffing problems elsewhere, officials said.
CBS News' Kris van Cleave reports the air traffic control staffing problems originated at Washington and Jacksonville's Air Route Traffic Control Centers. The two centers handle flights en route between destinations. There are also delays at Philadelphia and Tampa, van Cleave reported.
"Good news that the federal government will reopen. Shouldn't have happened in the first place. Now time for Democrats to fund border wall and Republicans to move on DACA and TPS," Rep. Peter King wrote on Twitter. "Both sides should ignore fringes - Progressives on the left and Freedom Caucus on the right."
"What was the point of all this, other than show just how absurdly broken Washington is?" said Rep. Max Rose of Staten Island. "As I've said from the beginning, I fully support re-opening the government—even if on a temporary basis—so we can have a real discussion about effectively securing our border without holding the paychecks of 800,000 hardworking Americans hostage."
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
