Trump signs two-week extension to avoid federal shutdown

Dec. 7 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump signed a stopgap spending bill Friday to avoid a shutdown and keep the government running for another two weeks.

The bill, unanimously passed in the Senate and House, will extend appropriations for certain government agencies until Dec. 21. It also continues funding for the National Flood Insurance Program.

The two-week extension gives legislators and the White House more time to deal with a stalemate on the president's wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The House offered $5.6 billion to the Department of Homeland Security for the wall and other border security upgrades, while a Senate bill provides $1.6 billion.

Trump has asked for $5 billion for the wall, but congressional Democrats are reluctant to appropriate money for that endeavor. Seven government agencies have not yet obtained appropriations, but funding for the border wall remains the most contentious issue.

The stopgap bill sets up a pre-Christmas showdown over funding. Trump has repeatedly threatened a partial shutdown if funding for the wall isn't approved.

The president will meet with the Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Tuesday to discuss the matter. Pelosi said Thursday she would not trade wall funding for the DACA program, which offers legal protection for young immigrants taken to the United States illegally as children.