Trump signs COVID relief, averts federal shutdown

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – President Donald Trump has signed into law a $900 billion pandemic relief package. This ends days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal. At stake was long-sought cash for businesses and individuals and money to avoid a federal government shutdown. The massive package also provides $1.4 trillion for government agencies through September. Trump signed the bill at his private club in Florida during a holiday break marked by trips to the golf course. Republicans as well as Democrats had criticized the president for creating eleventh-hour chaos around an agreement that had been negotiated with input from the White House.

By JILL COLVIN, LISA MASCARO and ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press