THE U.S. federal government reopened late Friday after President Donald Trump ratified a bill funding the government for three weeks.

In a statement, the White House said Trump signed into law the “Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019,” which includes funding for the federal government through Feb. 15.

Absent from the bill was funding for a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border, a must-have for Trump. The White House and Democrats will continue to negotiate over the border security issue in the next three weeks.

The swift ratification of the stopgap bill is widely viewed as a setback for the White House, as building a physical border wall to bolster border security had been a centerpiece of Trump’s campaign pledges.

Despite the temporary halt to the ugly political fight that kept the nation on edge, uncertainties still lie ahead as both sides struggle to find common ground.

Trump threatened to shut the government down again or call for a state of emergency should new talks falter.  (Xinhua)