Trump relents and signs $1.3tn federal spending into law

United States: Veto threat over Mexico wall dropped

US President Donald Trump yesterday signed a $1.3trillion spending measure averting a government shutdown at midnight, acting just hours after saying he was considering a veto.

He had complained that the legislation does not fully fund his plans for a border wall with Mexico and does not address some 800,000 “dreamer” immigrants who are now protected from deportation under a programme that he has moved to eliminate.

He said he signed it simply in order to provide money for the military.

Earlier, he had cast doubt on whether he would back the massive bill, saying he was “considering” a veto. Then, adding to the madefor-TV drama, he scheduled a news conference.

Telegraphing the outcome, an internal White House television feed ad- vertised the event this way: “President Trump Participates in a Bill Signing.”

With Congress already on recess, Mr Trump had said on Twitter that he was considering a veto. He said young immigrants now protected in the US under Barack Obama’s Delayed Action for Childhood Arrivals “have been totally abandoned by the Democrats (not even mentioned in bill) and the BORDER WALL, which is desperately needed for our National Defense, is not fully funded”.

Several advisers inside and outside the White House had characterised the tweet as Mr Trump blowing off steam.

Mr Trump’s signature came hours after the Senate had passed the $1.3trillion spending package aimed at keeping the government open past midnight.

Senate approval averted a third federal shutdown this year, an outcome both parties wanted to avoid. The budget failed to resolve the stalemate over shielding “dreamer” immigrants from deportation after Mr Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme last year.

The spending package includes £1.6billion for Mr Trump’s long-promised border wall with Mexico.

The money was far less than the $25billion over 10 years Mr Trump had asked for as part of a last-ditch deal that would have included providing a temporary extension of the DACA programme.

“The border wall, desperately needed for our defence, is not fully funded”