Trump signs stopgap funding bill to prevent shutdown

President Trump on Friday signed a stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown, according to the White House. 

Trump signed the measure without fanfare, one day after Congress sent it to his desk. 

The measure funds the government until Dec. 22, giving congressional leaders two more weeks to negotiate a broader spending agreement. 

Democrats and Republicans have been at an impasse over a long-term government funding deal. 

The two parties have been unable to agree on spending levels and are sparring over whether to include a measure to aid young immigrants living illegally in the U.S.

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) met with Trump at the White House on Thursday to try and hammer out an agreement. 

The White House sounded optimistic a deal is in reach, with one official saying afterward the parties tentatively agreed to defense spending levels, one of the main snags in the talks.

Leaders in both parties, however, painted a less rosy picture of the meeting and said no agreement was at hand.

The leaders are expected to continue the talks on Friday.