Donald Trump announces today he is lifting the government shutdown for three weeks until February 15, while senate and congress work on a budget agreement that recognizes the importance of a border wall.
Furloughed government workers and those working without pay will be paid as soon as possible, he added, during a live early afternoon press conference.
During his remarks, he proceeded to use fear and crime as justification to get his wall to prevent migrants from the southern borders.
U.S. Congressman William Lacy Clay issued a statement in response to Trump’s temporary agreement.
Clay’s full statement reads as follows:
“For 35-days, the President inflicted needless suffering, pain and real damage on federal employees and our nation for absolutely no good reason.
The Trump Shutdown was never about border security. It was about the President’s ego and his ridiculous campaign promise.
The temporary agreement reached today is virtually identical to the spending deal that was initially approved on December 22, 2018.
35-days. No wall.
But real damage to innocent Americans and our economy.
Donald Trump needs to finally understand that real leaders don’t build walls, they build bridges.”
