On Friday, President Donald Trump signed the bill ending the longest government shutdown in US history. The US has been hit hard by the shutdown over the last 36 days with nearly 800,000 federal employees temporarily thrown out of work.

While Trump wants to build a US-Mexico border wall for which he has been looking for a whopping USD 5.7 billion in funding for the physical blockade which according to him is a must to prevent the flow of illegal migrants into the US. The Democrats, however, have asserted that such a move is a "waste" of taxpayers money.

On Thursday The President had said that he would only sign a bill if it included a "down payment" on a border barrier. "One of the ideas suggested is they open it, they pay sort of a pro-rated down payment for the wall, which I think people would agree that you need the wall," Trump had been quoted as telling reporters at the White House.

also read: President Ram Nath Kovind Addressing the nation on Republic Day eve

Earlier reports suggested Trump had been thoughtful over declaring a national emergency by using his authority and direct the Defense Department to construct a border wall as Congress and the White House fight over a deal to end the government shutdown.  Thousands of government employees have scrambled to pay for meals and cover their bills. The shutdown has also affected various services from airports to FBI investigations and food safety inspections. 
alos read Republic Day celebrations underway in the national capital: