US Shutdown: Congress Passes Bill, Trump Claims Victory

Local Editor

US President Donald Trump has hailed the end of the government shutdown as a "big win" for Republicans.

The Democratic leadership agreed to back the bill after accepting promises from Republicans for a debate later on the future of young illegal immigrants.

Trump said the Democrats "caved" as he signed a bill to end the three-day shutdown.

But Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said: "The great deal-making president sat on the sidelines."

Thousands of federal employees who had been placed on temporary, unpaid leave since Saturday prepared to return to work.

"It was essentially a lunch break," Tom Chapel, a scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, told Reuters news agency.

A spending bill that ended the shutdown passed the Senate by a majority of 81-18 and the House of Representatives by 266-150 on Monday.

Stocks rose as news of the agreement spread.

But the deal is not a long-term solution.

It is the fourth temporary measure since October because Capitol Hill cannot agree a longer-term budget.

The so-called continuing resolution keeps the government funded until 8 February in the hope that Congress can reach a longer-term budget agreement in the meantime.

"I know there's great relief that this episode is coming to an end," said Speaker Paul Ryan. "But this is not a moment to pat ourselves on the back. Not even close."

Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell said his party had "come to an arrangement" to negotiate on the Democrats' calls for an immigration deal.

Democrats want protections from deportation for so-called Dreamers, more than 700,000 young immigrants brought to the US as children.

But Republicans had insisted no agreement was possible while federal government services were closed.

Trump, a Republican, said in a statement: "I am pleased that Democrats in Congress have come to their senses.

"We will make a long-term deal on immigration if, and only if, it is good for our country."

He then tweeted that the Democrats had "caved", adding that he looked forward to future negotiations.

The White House answerphone message over the weekend blamed Democrats for the shutdown, saying: "Unfortunately, we cannot answer your call today, because Congressional Democrats are holding government funding - including funding for our troops and other national security priorities - hostage to an unrelated immigration debate."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team