President Donald Trump announced a deal with congressional leaders on Friday to reopen the government and end the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
Trump, speaking from the White House Rose Garden, said the agreement would reopen the federal government for three weeks while Congress works out a deal to fund the $5.7 billion needed for border security. Trump said if negotiators are unable to secure funding for a border wall by Feb. 15, there could be another government shutdown, or he would consider declaring a national emergency.
“I will make sure that all employees receive their back pay very quickly or as soon as possible,” Trump said.
More than 800,000 federal employees have been furloughed since the government shutdown began on Dec. 22. Workers were expected to miss their second paycheck at the close of the shutdown’s fifth week. 
Trump requested the Senate bring the proposal to an immediate floor vote, and House members began working quickly after Trump’s speech to make sure the bill passes with unanimous consent. Trump is expected to sign the bill to reopen the government as soon as Friday evening.
Still, Trump’s ongoing feud with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) over funding for the border wall could lead to another prolonged shutdown in three weeks. Pelosi had promised not to negotiate with Trump about the wall until the shutdown ended. Trump, however, did not rule out a declaration of national emergency if a compromise over the wall is not made.
“As everyone knows I have a very powerful alternative, but I didn’t want to use it at this time,” Trump said. “Hopefully, it will be unnecessary.”
The effects of the government shutdown continued to expand across the country Friday as reports of considerable delays at airports over a shortage of air traffic controllers emerged. Flights into and out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport were restricted, and travelers in Newark and Philadelphia experienced significant delays.
Some saw the delays as increasing pressure on the White House to reopen the government.
“The President has been briefed and we are monitoring the ongoing delays at some airports,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Friday morning. “We are in regular contact with officials at the Department of Transportation and the FAA.”