Move FM Global News

WASHINGTON DC – U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday agreed with Congress to re-open the government, ending a crippling 35-day shutdown.

The deal allows for the government to re-open for three weeks while lawmakers and the administration try to nut out a more permanent deal.

Friday’s agreement provides no funding for the wall Mr Trump has been proposing, which he has demanded $5.7 billion for.

“I am very proud to announce today that we have reached a deal to end the shutdown and re-open the federal government,” Mr. Trump announced in the White House Rose Garden.

The U.S. president however warned that if no permanent deal is reached in the next 3 weeks, then the shutdown could resume.

“We really have no choice but to build a powerful wall or steel barrier. If we don’t get a fair deal from Congress, the government will either shut down on Feb. 15 – again – or I would use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the Constitution of the United States to address this emergency,” Mr. Trump said.

The shutdown began on 22 December after the president demanded $5.7 billion in funding for the wall, which was denied by the Democrat-controlled House – just as it was when the Republicans were in control.

Despite maintaining his demand for a wall, Mr Trump on Friday seemed to be backing away from a fully-fledged barrier.

“We do not need 2,000 miles of concrete wall from sea to shining sea. We never did,” Mr. Trump said. “We never proposed that. We never wanted that because we have barriers at the border where natural structures are as good as anything that we could build.”

“Our proposed structures will be in predetermined, high-risk locations that have been specifically identified by the Border Patrol to stop illicit flows of people and drugs,” the president said.