WASHINGTON — In a sweeping bipartisan vote that takes a government shutdown off the table, the House passed a temporary government-wide funding bill Tuesday night, shortly after President Donald Trump prevailed in a behind-the-scenes fight over his farm bailout. The stopgap measure will keep federal agencies fully up and running...
Lawmakers Return to Assess Budget and Debt Agreement
WASHINGTON — House lawmakers are returning to Washington to assess a budget and debt deal between Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Donald Trump, but there's no evidence of any last-gasp drama that could upset the hard-won compromise. Reaction to the two-year deal, which would enable the government's debt-fueled...
Economy Grew at Solid 3.1% Rate in Q1; Slowdown Expected
WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy grew at a solid 3.1% rate in the first three months of the year, but much of that gain was based on temporary factors that will likely fade, leaving growth much slower in the current quarter. The Commerce Department said Thursday that the first quarter...
US Economy Grew at Strong 3.2% Rate in First Quarter
WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy grew at a solid 3.2% annual rate in the first three months of the year, a far better outcome than expected, overcoming a host of headwinds including global weakness, rising trade tensions and a partial government shutdown. The advance in the gross domestic product, the...
Trump Will Sign Bill, Then Declare Border Emergency
WASHINGTON — Congress steamed toward lopsided approval of a border security compromise Thursday night that would avert a second painful government shutdown but ignite a major new confrontation — this time over President Donald Trump's plan to bypass lawmakers and declare a national emergency to siphon billions from other federal...
Though Unhappy With Deal, Trump Doesn’t Expect a New Shutdown
WASHINGTON — Under mounting pressure from his own party, President Donald Trump appears to be grudgingly leaning toward accepting an agreement that would head off a threatened second government shutdown but provide just a fraction of the money he's been demanding for his Mexican border wall. Trump said Tuesday he would need...
As Trump Makes Case for Border Wall, Congress Works Out a Deal
EL PASO, Texas — President Donald Trump headed to the Texas border on Monday to argue his case that walls work as Democrats and Republicans back home in Washington announced a deal had been reached to avoid another government shutdown. Trump was bound for El Paso, aiming to reshape the...
Finally! Trump, Congress Reach Deal to End Shutdown
WASHINGTON — Yielding to mounting pressure and growing disruption, President Donald Trump and congressional leaders on Friday reached a short-term deal to reopen the government for three weeks while negotiations continue over the president's demands for money to build his long-promised wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. "I am very proud...
Trump Aides Struggle to Show Shutdown Empathy
NEW YORK — One White House aide mused that the shutdown was like a paid vacation for some furloughed workers. President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law said employees' "little bit of pain" was worth it for the good of the country. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross questioned why cash-poor workers were using food...
Both Parties Feel Urgency After Senate Fails to End Shutdown
WASHINGTON — Republican and Democratic leaders hunted Friday for a way to halt the 35-day partial government shutdown, but remained at odds over President Donald Trump's demand that any compromise include money for his coveted border wall. Senators were talking with increased urgency after Thursday's defeat of competing proposals from...