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WASHINGTON – President Trump agreed Friday to reopen the federal government for three weeks, time to negotiate on how to secure the country's southwestern border. After a deadlock of one month, the Democrats were not forced to give him billions of dollars.
The decision paved the way for Congress to pass the spending bills on Friday that Mr. Trump will sign to restore the normal operations of a series of federal agencies until February 15 and start paying $ 800,000 again. Federal employees who were forced or forced to work for free for 35 days.
The plan does not include any of the amounts for the wall he claimed and is essentially the same approach that Mr. Trump rejected at the end of December, which means he did not nothing won. concrete during deadlock. But if Republicans and Democrats can not agree on wall money by the February deadline, he said he was ready to resume confrontation or declare a national emergency. and completely bypass the Congress.
"We really have no choice but to build wall or steel fence," Mr. Trump told the rose garden. "If we do not get a fair deal from Congress, the government will either be closed on February 15, or I will use the powers conferred on me by the laws and the US Constitution to remedy this situation." Emergency. "
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The ceasefire could pave the way for handing over by Mr. Trump of his speech on the state of the Union to Congress, originally scheduled to deliver his speech next Tuesday, but President Nancy Pelosi has canceled her invitation to appear before the House until the end of her speech. at the reopening of the government The speech could not be clear from the beginning of the speech.
While announcing the move, Mr. Trump paid tribute to federal workers who spent five weeks without pay in expressing sympathy for them in a way that it does not had never seen it until now. "You are fantastic people," he said. "You are incredible patriots. Many of you have suffered much more than anyone, but your families would know or understand it.
He promised to ensure that workers are compensated for the paychecks they have lost since the beginning of the closure in late December. "I will ensure that all employees receive their salary arrears very quickly or as quickly as possible," he said. "It will happen soon."
The surprise announcement was a remarkable retreat for a president who made the wall his non-negotiable condition for the government's reopening. Trump yielded as the effects of the shutdown reverberated into the northeastern part of the country, with repercussions far beyond paychecks, such as the slowdown in air traffic on Friday due to scarcity air traffic controllers who have been sick. The F.B.I. The manager said he was as angry that he had never seen his unpaid agents, and 14,000 Internal Revenue Service workers did not show up for work despite orders.
million. Trump did not provide any explanation for his surrender, and he did not even recognize that it was one. Cabinet officials and White House aides lined up on the sides of the Rose Garden and applauded him. The President began his remarks as if he had actually emerged victorious, saying that he was "very proud to announce" what he called "an agreement to end the closure." and reopen the federal government. "
Polls show the president holds the most The Republicans of Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the leader of the majority, lobbied Mr. Trump for that he agreed to the temporary ceasefire. Over the next three weeks, a committee of the House of Representatives of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Senate representing both sides will negotiate a security plan at the border, but if it fails to reach a consensus, government agencies could close again.
The president's concession comes a day after . two competing measures to reopen the government failed in the Senate. A democratic bill, which would have unconditionally reopened the government, garnered more votes than the Trump-backed bill, which provided temporary protections for some undocumented immigrants in exchange for $ 5.7 billion for the border wall project.
. McConnell spent part of Friday morning discussing with Trump the type of border security that the president would accept – with the exception of a wall – in return for a promise from the Democrats to debate the issue. less of the wall in the Senate during the normal course of debate. According to a Republican Assistant Familiar with the Talks
This person stated that Mr. McConnell's goal was to pressure the moderate Democrats, who had shown themselves open to a physical barrier, to accept one. If they did not, the Republicans or Mr. Trump could overthrow the government again – much of the pressure from 800,000 unpaid federal employees has been somewhat eased.
In the Senate, a Thursday A bipartisan group of senators signed an amendment that would open the government for three weeks without conditions and with a commitment in good faith to negotiate a broader border security solution in that time frame.
"What we put on the table is our As lawmakers, three weeks later, our reputation as legislators will lead to a positive resolution of the issue of border security," said Senator Benjamin L Cardin, Democrat of Maryland.
Republican leaders attempted to rally their members in a closed policy, lunch before Thursday's votes, but even as Republicans prepared to support Mr. Plan. Trump, signs of frustration mounted about the tactics used in the face of persistent stalemate and lack of momentum for a solution.
At one point during lunch, Senator Ron Johnson, The Wisconsin Republican criticized McConnell for putting Republicans in the obligation to vote on two competing approaches to reopen the government – a Republican and a Democratic – without consulting a u before the Republicans of the Senate.
"You put us in this position," said Johnson, according to one of his aides. Another Republican advisor who knew the trade well said that Johnson told McConnell that it was "your fault". Mr. McConnell, who had been largely absent from the negotiations for the reopening of the government until late last week, replied: "Do you offer I appreciate that?" [19659002] The details of the exchange were reported for the first time by the Washington Post.
At another point, Mr. McConnell also reported to Vice President Mike Pence, who was present for lunch, that Senate Republicans do not generally support closures.
"There is no education in the second kick of a mule," he said, recalling a line that he had frequently used, according to another person familiar with the exchange. And other Republican senators have made their own reservations about the continuation of the closure. Senator Dan Sullivan from Alaska talked about the disabling effect on the Coast Guard, for example, said this person.
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