U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday signed a massive COVID-19 relief and spending package bill into law, the White House said.
The $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending package, which includes $1.4 trillion in spending to fund government agencies, will extend benefits to millions of Americans struggling with the pandemic and also avert a partial federal government shutdown.
Trump had been criticized over the weekend for initially refusing to sign the much-needed COVID-19 relief package which was overwhelmingly passed by Congress following months of negotiation.
He has repeatedly demanded Congress change the bill to increase the size of stimulus checks for struggling Americans to $2,000 from $600 and blasted the relief bill as "a disgrace."
It's not immediately clear why the president reversed course on the deal, but doing so before a Monday night deadline avoided a government shutdown.
"As President, I have told Congress that I want far less wasteful spending and more money going to the American people in the form of $2,000 checks per adult and $600 per child," a statement from the president said after the signing. "Much more money is coming. I will never give up my fight for the American people!"
