Trump Defends Deal as Shutdown Officially Ends

President Trump has signed a bill that temporarily opens the federal government for three weeks, ending the longest shutdown in US history at 35 days. The White House says Trump signed the measure after the Senate and House each passed it Friday, per the AP. Trump backed down from his demand that Congress provide more border wall money before federal agencies get back to work. But he warned that the government could shut down again "if we don't get a fair deal from Congress." He is also holding out the possibility of taking executive action.

"This was in no way a concession," Trump said in a tweet late Friday, fending off critics who wanted him to keep fighting. "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!" As part of the deal, a bipartisan committee of House and Senate lawmakers is being formed to review border security recommendations. The agreement to open the government came as about 800,000 federal employees missed their second consecutive paycheck. (Ann Coulter delivered a harsh rebuke of Trump from the right.)