Trump accepts deal for temporary end longest govt shutdown in US history

Submitting to political pressure, President Donald Trump has backed a deal to temporarily end the record-breaking government shutdown in America's history despite getting no funding for his controversial plan to build a wall along the US-Mexico border.

The deal resolved the crippling 35-day closure but not the fight over his proposed border wall.

Trump is demanding USD 5.7 billion of congressional funding to build the wall, but the Democrats have refused. The shutdown, which began on December 22, has affected some 800,000 federal employees.

Trump previously vowed to reject any budget unless it included funding for his signature campaign pledge.

The deal backed by Trump funds the government for three weeks, until February 15, while lawmakers try to reach a wider deal on immigration. Both the House and Senate passed the plan by voice vote on Friday.

The White House later confirmed Trump had signed it into law.

The short-term deal provides financial relief for federal workers, who have ..