Just hours after threatening a veto, US President Donald Trump has signed the sweeping US$1.3 trillion spending bill passed by Congress and avert a government shutdown.
In a morning tweet, Trump said he might veto the omnibus bill because it does nothing to address the fate of those protected from deportation by the Obama era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme and does not fully fund his border wall.
As a matter of National Security I've signed the Omnibus Spending Bill. I say to Congress: I will NEVER sign another bill like this again. To prevent this omnibus situation from ever happening again, I'm calling on Congress to give me a line-item veto for all govt spending bills! https://t.co/kYwMk5AE5k
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2018
But speaking to reporters at the White House less than four hours later, Trump said he had decided to sign the bill despite his reservations, arguing that it provides much‑needed funding for the military, including a pay increase for troops and new equipment.
Still, he voiced disdain for the hasty way the bill was passed.
Source: Washington Post
