Trump signs bill to fund government for FY19

President Donald Trump this afternoon signed legislation to fully fund the federal government for the remainder of fiscal year 2019, averting a second partial shutdown that was looming at midnight tonight.

Congress voted to pass the $333 billion, 1,169-page spending bill on Feb. 14. The Senate voted 83-16 to pass the bill after Trump confirmed he intended to sign it. The House voted several hours later, with a final vote of 300-128. Both votes represent veto-proof majorities.

The funding bill contains a 1.9 percent raise for federal employees retroactive to Jan.1 and also includes $25 million boost for the Technology Modernization Fund -- the central revolving fund created under the Modernizing Government Technology Act to support IT updates at federal agencies. A provision to reimburse contractors for lost wages during the December-January shutdown did not make the final version of the bill.

Trump held a Rose Garden press conference Friday morning, where he announced he would declare a national emergency to redirect funding for additional border wall construction. The president avoided the subject of the spending bill almost entirely in the hour-plus event. House Democrats have said they will introduce a resolution to challenge the emergency declaration, and Trump himself predicted lawsuits seeking to block his move.