Trump signs spending plan to avoid government shutdown

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an $854 billion spending bill on Friday to keep the federal government open through Dec. 7, averting a government shutdown in the weeks leading up to November’s pivotal midterm elections.

The House and Senate approved the spending plan earlier this week.

But the passage also comes without significant new funding for Trump’s long-promised and long- stalled wall along the U.S.Mexico border.

Trump has expressed deep frustration f or months over Republican lawmakers’ failure to deliver on the centerpiece of his 2016 campaign.

GOP l eaders had warned Trump a shutdown could be deeply damaging to Republicans in the midterms.

But Trump had questioned that logic, arguing a shutdown could, in fact, be beneficial politically.