Government shutdown: Trump announces deal to end closure in rambling address as US airports hit by major delays
As Donald Trump's government shutdown reaches its 35th day
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Donald Trump has announced a short-term deal to reopen the federal government without allocating funds for his promised US-Mexico border wall.
The president spoke at the White House Rose Garden and said a deal had been made with congressional leadership to reopen the government for three weeks.
The announcement came as hundreds of flights were grounded or delayed at New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia airports.
“I am very proud to announce today that we have reached a deal to end the shutdown and reopen the federal government,” Mr Trump said from the Rose Garden.
The deal will keep the government open until 15 February while negotiations continue over funding for the border wall.
Trump shuts down US government over Mexico border wall – in pictures
Show all 15In his rambling address the president said: “Barrier or walls will be an important part of the solution.”
Mr Trump said a bipartisan committee of lawmakers would be made to consider border spending before the new deadline.
“They are willing to put partisanship aside, I think, and put the security of the American people first,” Trump said.
The breakthrough came as LaGuardia Airport in New York and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey both experienced at least 90-minute delays in take-offs due to the shutdown.
Follow events as they happened below
Additional reporting by Associated Press
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association has issued a searing statement about the ongoing government shutdown:
Hundreds of flights have been grounded or delayed at three New York-area and Philadelphia airports as more air traffic controllers called in sick on Friday. The disruption is one of the most tangible signs yet of disruption caused by a 35-day partial federal government shutdown.
(Reuters)
Donald Trump is expected to make an announcement regarding the shutdown imminently from the Rose Garden.
Congressional leaders and Mr Donald Trump reached a tentative deal on Friday to reopen the US government for three weeks and leave Trump's $5.7bn request for a wall along the Mexican border to later talks, the Washington Post has reported.
The newspaper cited unidentified congressional officials.
(Reuters)
The White House and congressional leaders are reportedly near a short-term deal
to end the longest government shutdown in US history, PA reports.
Donald Trump has announced that a deal has been reached to end the government shutdown.
Mr Trump will soon sign a bill to open the government for three weeks.
He has reminded viewers that he had a strong "alternative" at his disposal, seemingly referring to his earlier plans to declare a national emergency if he didn't get funding for his proposed border wall – and that he had decided not to use it so far.
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Mr Trump has caved on the border wall and agreed to end the longest government shutdown in US history:
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