President Trump announced Friday that Congress has reached a deal to end the longest government shutdown in history, which has left nearly 800,000 federal employees for weeks without paying jobs. “I am very proud to announce today that we have reached a deal to end the shutdown and reopen the federal government,” he said, adding that he will sign a bill to keep the government open for another three weeks.

The announcement came just hours after a shortage air traffic controllers, who said they have been overworked and exhausted by the shutdown, caused delays and flight stoppage across the country.

“I had a very powerful alternative but I did not have to use it at this time,” the president said during a Rose Garden presser, referencing his threats to declare a national emergency to divert funds to his desired border wall. “Hopefully it will be unnecessary.” Trump continued, and stated that if the White House did not get a “fair deal” on border security from Congress, “the government will either shut down or on February 15, again, or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the constitution of the United States to address this emergency.”